Grant: Engage Plus Grants Program

This Engage Plus application aims at supporting the further developments of a collaborative research program*between Domtar Inc. and Dr. Ye at Concordia University in developing lignin-polymer composite materials*and processing technologies. Lignin is the second most abundant biopolymer after cellulose. Industrial lignin is*produced as a by-product of pulping mills and bio-refineries and the majority of lignin is burned as a low value*fuel in the recovery boilers. Given its natural abundance and low cost, lignin is a key platform material for the*development of new value-added, bio-based products from existing pulp and paper manufacturing sites and*their forest based supply chains. Numerous potential value-added applications and valorization technologies for*this material have been identified but few if any have been commercialized to date. Domtar, as a world leader*in the development and commercialization of isolated kraft lignin manufacture and marketing, has made good*progress on converting crude lignin powder into dried lignin pellets by extrusion and has used them to make*lignin-thermoplastic compound materials. However, there are still several challenges that need to be addressed,*potentially improve the whole production process and optimize the performance of the composite materials.*These challenges include dewatering of moist lignin at relatively low temperatures, further process*optimization for removal of odor of lignin in the products, and development of diversified products. This*Engage Plus project is aimed at addressing Domtar's specific challenges through our collaborative research*efforts. The success of this research is expected to expand the utilization of lignin, leading to high-value*products having the potential for commercial exploitation.