The use of fossil-based feedstocks must decline drastically if society is to reach net zero emissions and move towards a biobased economy. For this to happen, sustainable alternative sources to produce chemicals must be found, innovations developed, and technologies implemented. This project aims to tap into an underutilized resource, lignin, in combination with fatty acids to produce low molecular weight aromatic and alkane chemical components derived from renewable resources.
Overview of the Lignol technology.
These types of base chemicals have huge implication of the daily life of people through the many applications they are found in. Aromatics are used in applications ranging from fuel additives to polymer applications and today there are no large-scale production derived from renewable resources. Alkanes have similarly the potential to be used in e.g. steam cracking units to produce olefins. Especially polymer applications are areas where the carbon atoms are locked away for extended periods of time and can act like a carbon sink for the duration of their lifetime.
The Lignol value chain.
RenFuel has the innovation Lignol® – a lignin- and fatty acid-based bio-oil. When hydroprocessing Lignol®, two main product streams are generated. One directly correlated to the lignin component and one to the fatty acid component. Understanding of how to efficiently process biomass into desired chemicals is important to enable a transition into a biobased economy.
Participants
Ren Fuel K2B AB, OÜ Fibenol, ASG Analytik Service, Vendico Chemical AB, Comstock Fuels, and Pyrocell AB.
Budget & time plan
The project’s total budget is 8,4 MSEK and the project runs for 2,5 years– between June 2024 and November 2026.