STFI-Packforsk sells LignoBoost AB to Metso

LignoBoost is a new process that has attracted a great deal of interest internationally. Today, it is most probably the only commercially available technology that gives pulp mills the possibility of producing a new and interesting by-product in large volumes.

In collaboration with Chalmers, STFI-Packforsk has developed the LignoBoost process for extracting high quality lignin from sulphate pulp mills. The process makes it possible for a pulp mill to increase its capacity at a lower cost than making extensions to a recovery boiler with limited capacity. Profitability can be further increased if the lignin is used as a replacement for fuel oil or natural gas in, for instance, a lime kiln at a pulp mill or as raw material for producing valuable products, such as carbon fibre.

Due to co-operation among researchers at STFI-Packforsk, Associate Professor Peter Axegård and Per Tomani, Master of Engineering, and Professor Hans Theliander at Chalmers, a research concept was further developed. As a result of three research programmes, fundamental research results have been translated into industrial reality in less than a decade. By investing in its own development company, LignoBoost AB, STFI-Packforsk set up a demonstration plant, with helpful support from Södra, Stora Enso, Fortum, Nordic Paper and the Swedish Energy Agency. This plant started operating a little more than a year ago at the Nordic Paper Mill in Bäckhammar. Licences have already been sold to Nordic and American forest industry companies.

It is the view of STFI-Packforsk that LignoBoost technology will have the best chance of being further commercialised and implemented in industrial plants if it is sold to an international company such as Metso. A collaboration agreement has been signed with Metso for further developing the LignoBoost process. The demonstration plant at Bäckhammar will continue to remain part of STFI-Packforsk for the further development of the biorefinery technology and especially for further developing processes for lignin production and high-value products derived from lignin.

With a successful commercial start on the part of Metso, STFI-Packforsk expects that the total revenue from the sale of LignoBoost AB will amount to the order of what is equivalent to investments made at STFI-Packforsk in research, development and demonstrations of the lignin process during the last years.

Professor Gunnar Svedberg, President of STFI-Packforsk, commented, “This is a classic example of how an idea of research scientists, in the right environment and in an organization that is in close contact with both fundamental research and the market, can be converted into commercial technology of great value to trade and industry within less than a period of ten years.”

Vice President, Mr Anders Engström, responsible for the LignoBoost AB subsidiary, called attention to the especially interesting fact that the technology was developed for and with the support of the forest industry. “It’s exciting to work with the basic industry, when you come up with new technologies. In this case, some forest industry companies and representatives from energy companies have contributed a great deal to this successful result,” adds Anders.

The inventors of the process are delighted that they were able to bring their ideas to fruition. “Now we’re looking forward to Metso selling some LignoBoost plants every year around the world and that we will further develop this technology together. The timing is ideal and indications point to a very big market,” says Peter Axegård.

The President of Metso Power, Mr Lennart Olsson, is very pleased that his company now has access to yet another technological solution that has created a lot of interest on the market.

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