Page 180 - CW E-Magazine (29-7-2025)

Special Report

Three extraction technologies enabling high value

lignin applications

n the drive to decarbonize chemi- industry trends, and commercial op- IDTECHEX
cal production, some of the most portunities that will shape the future of E-mail: research@IDTechEx.com
Ipromising solutions come from un- green chemical production.
expected places. Lignin, once largely logies are now unlocking this potential,
burned for energy, is now being ex- Among the most promising yet transforming lignin from a waste by-
plored as a valuable input for a wide underutilized components of these re- product into a valuable resource. In this
range of green applications. As the in- newable inputs is lignin. Lignin is an article, IDTechEx explores three of the
dustry looks beyond fossil fuels, lignin aromatic polymer found in lignocellu- many innovative extraction technologies
is gaining new relevance as a renew- losic biomasses, such as wood and featured in its recent report, highlighting
able chemical feedstock with untapped agricultural residues. Unlike other bio- the pioneering work of Sonichem,
potential. At the same time, a diverse polymers, cellulose and hemicellulose, Lixea, and Anellotech.
array of emerging manufacturing tech- which are widely used to produce bio-
nologies are jostling for position in the based sugars and chemicals, lignin has Sonichem: Ultrasonic cavitation
race to defi ne the future of sustainable long been relegated to low-value uses, unlocking odor-free lignin
chemical production. chiefl y incinerated to generate process UK-based Sonichem is pioneering
heat. In fact, approximately 95% of lig- a low-energy lignin extraction techno-
As the chemical industry conti- nin produced globally is burned, with logy using ultrasonic cavitation. This
nues its shift toward sustainability, only a small fraction repurposed in process begins with sawdust, which is
attention is turning to next-generation applications such as animal feed. dissolved in water to form an aqueous
feedstocks. These are derived from mixture. Ultrasonic waves then gene-
renewable and waste sources, and serve This under utilization represents a rate extremely localized high tempera-
to cut carbon emissions and reduce fos- massive opportunity. If lignin can be tures and pressures, breaking apart the
sil dependency. These chemical feed- effi ciently extracted in high-quality forms, complex bonds between lignin, cellu-
stocks are the focus of the IDTechEx it has the potential to replace petroleum- lose, and hemicellulose. A recyclable
report (www.IDTechEx.com) ‘Next- derived products in a wide range of organic solvent (a carboxylic acid)
Generation Feedstocks for Sustainable applications. The range of applications assists in the separation, and the method
Chemicals 2025 – 2035: Markets, Players, spans bitumen replacements for road operates at relatively low temperatures,
Forecasts’. The report provides surfacing to battery anodes and sustain- enhancing energy effi ciency and
in-depth insight into key technologies, able packaging. New extraction techno- process safety.

The result? A low molecular weight
lignin (approximately 2,000 g/mol),
which is odour-free and soluble in
organic solvents. At pilot scale, Sonichem
is already producing lignin valued at
£2,500 per tonne, more than four times
the value of bio-based sugars. This
positions lignin as a strong candidate for
specialty applications such as adhe-
sives, coatings, and composites.

With a commercial plant planned in
Scotland and fi rst revenues expected by
2027, Sonichem is poised to tap into a
feedstock that is abundant, renewable,
Source: BioBTX. and underexploited.

180 Chemical Weekly July 29, 2025

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