Grant: Alliance Grants

In this collaborative project, Dr. Fatehi of the Biorefining Research Institute at Lakehead University, along with Dr. Daniel Beaudoin of FPInnovations, will investigate the production of demethylated and depolymerized lignin derivatives for application in phenol formaldehyde and epoxy resins, as well as poly urethane foams. Currently, kraft lignin and hydrolysis lignin are produced at pre-commercial and commercial scales in Canada via the LignoForce and TMP-Bio technologies that FPInnovations developed. However, the use of lignin produced via these technologies is limited in industry. In this proposed collaborative project, the opportunities for producing demethylated and depolymerized lignin derivatives in aqueous based systems will be fundamentally evaluated. Various innovative pathways will be examined to produce demethylated and depolymerized lignin derivatives for their use in adhesives, resins and foams, and the most compatible process with the LignoForce and TMP-Bio processes will be evaluated in detail for facilitating their adaptation and commercialization. Dr. Fatehi and FPInnovations' staff will collaborate closely and meet on a quarterly basis so that the developed technology can be adapted and practically implemented into the existing technologies. The new processes will assist FPInnovations in adopting the developed technologies in pulp mills (e.g., West Fraser Timber company) for commercializing the valorized lignin products. Additionally, this project will enable Dr. Fatehi to investigate the fundamentals associated with the application of demethylated and depolymerized lignin derivatives in adhesives, resins and foam applications. The production of lignin-derived chemicals is a pathway to establish wood based biorefinery, which will increase and diversify the revenues of pulp mills across Canada.