r/ChemicalEngineering • u/Thunder_Burt • 11d ago

Research Practicality and economic viability of replacing bisphenols with lignin?

Recent closures in pulp and paper industry have made me think about whether these pulp and paper plants could pivot to making lignin as a bisphenols replacement in plastic especially with the growing awareness of bisphenols harmful effects. Do you guys have any insights on how practical this would be and if it could become a cost effective alternative in the future? What would it take?

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u/Substandard_eng2468 11d ago

I am not sure about using lignin to replace BPA. But ligin is a small fraction of the pulp process. I don't believe it is economically viable as a mill's main product.

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u/pker_guy_2020 Petrochemicals/5 YoE 11d ago

It could be an additional side-stream to generate more value instead of burning the black liquor for electricity.

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u/Substandard_eng2468 11d ago

At some mills, lignin is an additional side stream where it is separated from the black liquor. The purpose of burning black liquor is to reduce the NaSO4 to Na2S so it can be used in the cooking, and the steam generation is the byproduct.

As the main product and current market, lignin wouldn't be viable.

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u/reptheevt Operations - Pulp & Paper 10d ago

Yeah I feel like the only times lignin extraction is valuable is if you’re at the edge of your maximum steaming rate on your recovery boilers and want to to squeeze more liquor burning by lowering heating value. 

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u/Redcrux 10d ago

If it generated more income than burning it for electricity or steam they would have been doing it.