Lignin-Polyethylene Composite Materials: Production Process Optimization and Performance Evaluation

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This Engage application aims at establishing a research partnership between Domtar Inc. and Dr. Ye atConcordia University to develop lignin-polyethylene composite materials. Lignin is the second most abundantbiopolymer after cellulose. Industrial lignin is produced as a by-product of pulping mills and bio-refineries andthe majority of lignin is burned as a low value fuel in the recovery boilers. Given its natural abundance and lowcost, lignin is a key platform material for the development of new value-added, bio-based products fromexisting pulp and paper manufacturing sites and their forest based supply chains. Numerous potentialvalue-added applications and valorization technologies for this material have been identified but few if anyhave been commercialized to date. Domtar, as a world leader in the development and commercialization ofisolated kraft lignin manufacture and marketing, has made good progress on converting crude lignin powderinto dried lignin pellets by extrusion and has used them to make lignin-thermoplastic compound materials.However there are still several challenges that need to be addressed, including optimization of the existinglignin extrusion process, de-odoring of the composites, and the performance properties of the lignin-basedcomposite pellets, in order for the large-scale commercial production. This Engage project is aimed ataddressing Domtar's specific challenges through our collaborative research efforts. The success of this researchis expected to expand the utilization of lignin, leading to high-value products having the potential forcommercial exploitation.