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High Value Opportunities for Lignin Addressing markets worth
more than 130 billion dollars, lignin could become the main renewable
aromatic resource for the chemical industry in the future. The first opportunity
could emerge as early as 2015 from the direct substitution of phenol in
most of its industrial applications: phenolic resins, surfactants, epoxy
resins, adhesives or polyester.
"The industry is just beginning to scratch the surface of lignin's
potential," explains Frost & Sullivan consultant, Nicolas Smolarski:
"It is the only renewable source for industrial aromatics production
and is de-correlated from the fluctuating price of oil."
Lignin represents 30 per cent of all the non-fossil organic carbon
on Earth. Its availability exceeds 300 billion tonnes, increasing annually
by around 20 billion tonnes. A high quantity of lignin is found in wood,
in which it represents 20-35 per cent in terms of weight. Compared to
other wood components (cellulose and hemicelluloses), it is a much more
complex polymer, but has been considered for a long time a low-quality
and low-added-value material.
For example, as of 2010, the pulp and paper industry alone produced
an estimated 50 million tonnes of extracted lignin, but only 2 per cent
(1 million tonnes) was commercially used for low-value products such
as dispersing or binding agents; the rest was burnt as a low-value fuel.
Overall, the lignin business today represents roughly 300 million dollars.
However, new, developing technologies now allow the extraction of high-purity
lignin which can be converted in various high-value chemicals and products,
among which are BTX (Benzene, Toluene, Xylene), phenol, vanillin or
carbon fibre.
Mr Smolarski explains that "one of lignin's unique strengths is that
it can either be used directly as a 'drop in' to replace phenols in
an existing petrochemical process, or it can be further processed to
create polymer building blocks."
Inevitably, unlocking the potential of lignin involves taking down
some barriers. "Limited technology maturity, weak links between R&D
efforts and the industry, biofuel development draining government mandates
and lack of funding options for biochemicals biorefiners are some of
the main challenges to the emergence of cost-competitive lignin applications,"
adds Mr. Smolarski
Frost & Sullivan explores these challenges and their potential lifts,
and proposes a roadmap for the 10 years ahead. In his analysis, Mr Smolarski
also reviews four promising lignin applications and extends a call for
action to petrochemical companies. "The petrochemical industry holds
by far the highest capacity to accelerate the emergence of lignin-based
chemicals. Being the first mover on this market can assure technology
leadership, strategic partnerships and a competitive edge." concludes
Mr Smolarski.
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration
with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global
challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break
today's market participants.
For more information on the potential of the lignin market, send
an e-mail with your contact details to Chiara Carella, Corporate Communications,
at chiara.carella@frost.com.
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