Lignin (és NNECC Markets market for lignin based materials Current Applications Isolated lignin is curently used in a wide range of low volume, niche applications where the form but not the {ualty is important. Solubility of the igin in water isan Important requirement or these applications and wien chamically modified to become water soluble, the lignin produetis known as a ignosulphonate. Around 67 5% ff wold consumption of gnosuiphonate in 2008 was for ‘ispersant applications folowed by binder and adhesive ‘applications a 32.5% Major end-use markets include construction, mining ‘animal feeds and agriculture. The principal markets for lignosulphonate are summarises betow!, Current Production ‘Thote is an estimated 50 milion tonnes of ignin avaliable from pulping processes world wide, but much ‘ofthis isnot isolated but burned onsite to provide ‘This Factsheet gives an overview ofthe current and potential steam for heat and power production’ The global production of isolated lignin for ignosuiphonate production is current around 1.1 milion tonnes. ‘The market is mature and growing slowly millon tonnes is derived from the acid sulphite pulping process. The remaining 100,000 tonnes is derived from the kraft pulping process. Current Demand ‘Demand for gnosulphonate has been growing at around 1.4% per year, and generally varies in ine with ‘overall economic growth’. The largest ‘markets for ignosulphonato word wide are USA, Wester Europe, China ‘and Central and Eastern Europe’ ‘The ltr is expected to become the largest market for gnosulphonate in 2013, accounting for 20% of worl consumption" ae Head of Bioy@f Ss Tel: +44 (0f1904 435182 u y enquiries@finfce-coiuk www.nnfée.60.Uk: De Ne care TTT) ea edd ele Clot Producten: round 1.1 lion tonnes per anu ~ Curent Markt Pie £250-£2,000 pee anne depending on fom ~ Roncuable Cpacty Around 1.1 millon anes pe annum ~ Renewate Tecnology Sais: Commer or Curent Use: Wise range flow velume, riche appeatons Manufacturers? “There ae many producers of lgnosuphanate,Boregeard Lignotach dominate prodction word wide BorregaraLignotsch ww Sgnctach.com \Weetaco: ww meadiestace convindex him Tombec: wawtambec confublcfanguageTechnology Current Production Route from Biomass “The acid sulphite pulping process uses various salls of sulphurous acd and results nthe production of sulphonatad lignin whichis water Soluble (ignosulphonate). The kraft pulping process uses sodium sulphate and sodium ‘carbonate fo breakdown the lignin and some hemicelluloses. The lignin is isolated through acid precipitation of black iquor which produces "unsulphonated lignin. If required, kraft igri ean be sulphonated using the sulphomethyiation process to make lignasuiphonate and improve ‘water solubliy® Future Production Routes ‘The lignocellulosic biofuels sector could result in an increase in lignin avaiabiity. The quality land amount of lignin wil vary depending on the technologies adopted. Lignin from steam ‘explosion pre-treatment and trom pyrolysis is reportedly lower in molecular weight than kraft lignin, whist ignin derived from acid hydrolysis. Pre-treatments is reportedly unsuitable for ‘chemical use uniass non-standard technologies are used! Biomass fractionation technologies (euch as the organsalv pulping process) produce three discrete fractions of lignin, cellulose and hemiceluloses, Fractionation processes recover 95% of lignin with 5% or less contamination, no sulphur contamination and Is low in ash and contaminants, Lignin from fractionation could be used as a feedstock for high value macromolecule and buk chemical markets! Potential Market Developments The use of lignin for chemical production has so far been limited due to contamination trom salts, sugars, particulates, volatiles and the molecular weight distribution in ignosulphonate®. The production of most Value added chemicals from lignin is viewed as a longer term opportunity! which may be realised if higher {quality lignin can be obtained. Any use for chemicals or value added products would need to be competitive ‘against using the lignin for energy. Potential applications for ignin are shown inthe figure below References "wu seonsuling comCEN/PubeReporst671 5000! * Ek, M. (2005) The Status of Applied Lignin Research. Processum. » Gosselink. R.A. a al. Co-ordination network for igin-standardsation, production and applications adapted to market requirements (EUROLIGNIN) “Marketing Study for Biomass Treatment Technology. Report for Noah East Process Industy Cluster by NNECC. * Holaday, JE. ta (2007), Top Valve Added Choma rm Biomass, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. ‘il gouimainpubicationelextemaltechnicalrepots/PNNL.16983.pdf ‘May 2011