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Economic and competitive potential of lignin-based thermoplastics using a multicriteria decision-making method, TAPPI Journal September 2022
ABSTRACT: As a result of new lignin extraction plants hatching and increasing volumes of technical lignin becoming available, a variety of lignin derivatives, including phenolic resins and polyurethane (PU) foams, are reaching the marketplace or being used as intermediate products in many industrial applications. In the spectrum of possible lignin derivatives, thermoplastics appear particularly attractive due to a symbiosis of market, policy, and technology drivers. To assess the preferredness for lignin-based thermoplastics, this paper adapted a risk-oriented methodology formerly applied to assess lignin usage in various applications (phenol-formaldehyde [PF] resins, PU foams, and carbon fiber applications) to the case of lignin-based thermoplastics using hydroxypropylated lignin (HPL) and miscible blends of lignin and polyethylene oxide (PEO). The HPL is considered for garbage bags and agricultural films applications, while lignin-PEO blends are used as replacement for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) in applications such as automotive parts. In the methodology, two phased-implementation strategies were defined for each thermoplastic derivative, considering perspectives for profit maximization (90 metric tons/day integrated units) and revenue growth (350 metric tons/day overall capacity), which were considered for implementation within a softwood kraft pulping mill. A set of six criteria representative of the main economic and market competitiveness issues were employed, and their respective importance weights were obtained in a multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) panel.Early-stage techno-economic estimates were done as a basis for the calculation of decision criteria. Compared to product derivatives previously assessed, capital investment for thermoplastic strategies appeared marginally higher due to the required lignin modification steps (on average 30% higher at similar capacity, and 6% for higher-scale revenue diversification strategies). Higher operating costs were also observed due to increased chemical expenses for all thermoplastic strategies, which are ultimately balanced by revenues associated with targeted thermoplastic products, leading to greater annual margins and cash flow generation over the project lifetime for thermoplastic strategies compared to other product applications (58% to 66% higher on average, at similar scale). Benefits of improved economics were reflected in economic criteria, internal rate of return (IRR), and cash flow on capital employed (CFCE), as well as in the price competitiveness criterion, CPC. Overall, the combination of relatively high lignin content in the plastic formulation and the less costly modification method contributed to lignin-PEO strategies, gaining the top two rankings. Based on their overall scores, both strategies defined for HPL would also integrate the group of “preferred” strategies, but are outranked by strategies that consider lignin positioning on PU foam applications.
Boiler Upgrades to Increase In-House Power Generation, 2008 Engineering, Pulping and Environmental Conference
Boiler Upgrades to Increase In-House Power Generation, 2008 Engineering, Pulping and Environmental Conference
Differences in Bleaching Responses from Fungal versus Bacterial Derived Enzymes, 2011 International Pulp Bleaching Conference
Differences in Bleaching Responses from Fungal versus Bacterial Derived Enzymes, 2011 International Pulp Bleaching Conference
Bleaching of Eucalyptus Kraft Pulps with Chlorine Dioxide: Factors Affecting the Efficiency of the Final D Stage, 2011 International Pulp Bleaching Conference
Bleaching of Eucalyptus Kraft Pulps with Chlorine Dioxide: Factors Affecting the Efficiency of the Final D Stage, 2011 International Pulp Bleaching Conference
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Decision-making process for the identification of preferred
Decision-making process for the identification of preferred lignin-based biorefinery strategies, TAPPI JOURNAL April 2017
Formaldehyde Abatement of Particleboard Sustrate with Several Scavenger Resins, 1996 Plastic Laminates Symposium Proceedings
Formaldehyde Abatement of Particleboard Sustrate with Several Scavenger Resins, 1996 Plastic Laminates Symposium Proceedings
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Scientific and Mathematical Notation
Scientific and Mathematical Notation Mathematical Material In a series, units of measurement are usually omitted for all but the last number, except for percent and degree signs: 22, 30 and 35 cm;
Building Better Information Highways -- Networking the Facto
Building Better Information Highways -- Networking the Factory Floor in a Box Plant, 1993 Corrugated Containers Conference Proceedings
Preliminary Study on Solvent Flotation De-Inking of Non-Impact Printed Papers, 1997 Recycling Symposium Proceedings
Preliminary Study on Solvent Flotation De-Inking of Non-Impact Printed Papers, 1997 Recycling Symposium Proceedings