Project

EU-Cofin 2018 Lignocost

Lignin is a large side product from the pulp and paper industry and is released during conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into bioethanol or biochemicals. Lignin has the potential to become the future aromatic raw material for the industry, but is largely underexploited due to lack of (information on) industrial availability, sustainable applications, environmental footprint. Economic considerations nonetheless make its valorisation mandatory for the viability of future biorefinery operations. To facilitate the transition of a complex, highly underexploited side stream to a major biorefinery product and industrial commodity raw material, a European network is established to join and coordinate the many efforts underway in academia and provide industrial stakeholders including SMEs relevant and up-to-date information on lignin covering topics such as:

From different disciplines this LignoCOST Action brings together industrial stakeholders, SMEs, academia and institutes from pan-European regions active in the pulp&paper, agri&food, biorefinery, chemicals and plastics, infra and building, fuels and energy, and consumer products industries.

The main objective of LignoCOST is to establish a sound network covering the entire value chain in which relevant information can be produced with a focus on lignin valorisation towards sustainable industrial applications. Only when working together this information can be gathered to cover the technical, non-technical, environmental and socio-economic implications of the most promising lignin value chains. Lignin valorisation fits very well in the themes of circular and climate positive approaches to reuse a significant side stream in sustainable materials and/or chemicals to substitute fossil resources and having an environmentally positive impact.

Lignin is a large side product from the pulp and paper industry and is released during conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into bioethanol or biochemicals. Lignin has the potential to become the future aromatic raw material for the industry, but is largely underexploited due to lack of (information on) industrial availability, sustainable applications, environmental footprint. Economic considerations nonetheless make its valorisation mandatory for the viability of future biorefinery operations. To facilitate the transition of a complex, highly underexploited side stream to a major biorefinery product and industrial commodity raw material, a European network is established to join and coordinate the many efforts underway in academia and provide industrial stakeholders including SMEs with this information.

The main objective of LignoCOST is to establish a sound network covering the entire value chain in which relevant information can be produced with a focus on lignin valorisation towards sustainable industrial applications. Only when working together this information can be gathered to cover the technical, non-technical, environmental and socio-economic implications of the most promising lignin value chains.

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