NSERC biomaterials and chemicals strategic research network

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The Forest Industry is one of Canada's largest industries and the economic mainstay of many communities across the country. It is facing great challenges due to competition from low cost sources of wood and declining demand for some of its products. The Industry is at a crossroads and must change. Production of new, high value products rather than traditional commodity products is the path to the future. Lignin is one of the primary components of wood, second only to cellulose in abundance. When wood is pulped to obtain cellulose fibres, approximately 20 % of wood is dissolved as lignin. This is currently used a fuel in pulp mills. However, lignin also has the potential to be a biomass feedstock for various products. While it has been used for some time to make adhesives, dispersants and surfactants, exciting new research is pointing