Production of water soluble products from tall oil lignin

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In this collaborative project, Dr. Fatehi of Chemical Engineering Department at Lakehead University along with Mr. Kelertas and Mr. Dokis of Resolute Forest Products will investigate the production of flocculants from lignin that is extracted from the tall oil production process of the Resolute Forest Products mill in Thunder Bay, ON. **In tall oil production process, crude tall oil is produced via acidulation of tall oil soap that is separated from black liquor of the kraft pulping process. Lignin and spent acids are the by-products of the tall oil production process. They are sent back to the evaporators of the kraft process and mixed with black liquor for burning. In this proposed CRD project, the opportunities for producing flocculants from lignin of the tall oil process is evaluated. Various innovative pathways will be examined to produce flocculants from lignin and the most compatible process with the tall oil production process will be evaluated in detail for facilitating its adaptation and commercialization in the kraft process. The produced flocculants are proposed to be used in water and wastewater purification of the mill (i.e., internal uses) as well as in municipal wastewater, thickeners and waste treatment facilities of the mining industry (i.e., external uses). Dr. Fatehi and Resolute's staff will collaborate closely on a bimonthly basis so that the developed technology can be adapted and practically implemented into the existing facilities of Resolute's mill in Thunder Bay. This new process will assist Resolute's mill in increasing its revenues and reducing its overall operation costs. Meanwhile, it will enable Dr. Fatehi to investigate the fundamentals associated with the application of lignin-based flocculants in wastewater systems and to be the pioneer in developing lignin-based value-added products. The production of lignin-based flocculants is a pathway to establish kraft-based biorefinery, which will increase and diversify the revenues of kraft pulp mills across Canada.**