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Metsä Group and ANDRITZ start lignin demo plant in Finland
New LigniOx demonstration facility advances renewable lignin-based materials for industrial applications.
www.andritz.com
Metsä Group and ANDRITZ have successfully started up a new demonstration plant for lignin refining at Metsä’s Äänekoski bioproduct mill in Finland, marking an important step in the shift toward circular and renewable material solutions.
Metsä Group and ANDRITZ have successfully started up a new lignin refining demonstration plant at Metsä’s Äänekoski bioproduct mill, marking a significant milestone in the development of circular, bio-based material solutions.
The plant enables Metsä Group to expand its product portfolio with refined lignin-based materials, while ANDRITZ brings its LigniOx™ lignin recovery technology to demonstration scale. The project also includes collaboration with Dow to develop bio-based plasticizers for concrete and gypsum applications using modified lignin from the facility.
Advancing lignin valorization
Lignin, a natural polymer that binds wood fibers together, is separated into black liquor during pulp production and is traditionally used as bioenergy. By diverting part of this lignin stream toward chemical and material applications, the process improves overall mill resource efficiency and reduces reliance on fossil-based raw materials.
The demonstration plant will validate both the production process and the performance characteristics of the refined lignin products. If the technology proves commercially viable, the next phase could involve engineering and constructing a full-scale production facility.
Scaling LigniOx™ technology
ANDRITZ’s LigniOx™ technology focuses on recovering and modifying lignin from pulp mill side streams to create higher-value applications. Moving from pilot validation to demonstration scale represents a key step toward industrial deployment.
The partners previously collaborated under the LigniOx EU project coordinated by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, where modified lignin was successfully tested as a fossil-based chemical substitute in concrete production. The new demo plant builds on those results, bringing the process closer to commercial implementation.
Supporting circular bioeconomy goals
By integrating lignin refining into existing pulp mill operations, the initiative demonstrates how industrial partnerships can accelerate the transition toward low-carbon, renewable materials. The project highlights the potential of pulp mill side streams as feedstock for advanced material solutions, supporting broader decarbonization and circular economy objectives in construction and materials industries.
www.andritz.com
Metsä Group and ANDRITZ have successfully started up a new lignin refining demonstration plant at Metsä’s Äänekoski bioproduct mill, marking a significant milestone in the development of circular, bio-based material solutions.
The plant enables Metsä Group to expand its product portfolio with refined lignin-based materials, while ANDRITZ brings its LigniOx™ lignin recovery technology to demonstration scale. The project also includes collaboration with Dow to develop bio-based plasticizers for concrete and gypsum applications using modified lignin from the facility.
Advancing lignin valorization
Lignin, a natural polymer that binds wood fibers together, is separated into black liquor during pulp production and is traditionally used as bioenergy. By diverting part of this lignin stream toward chemical and material applications, the process improves overall mill resource efficiency and reduces reliance on fossil-based raw materials.
The demonstration plant will validate both the production process and the performance characteristics of the refined lignin products. If the technology proves commercially viable, the next phase could involve engineering and constructing a full-scale production facility.
Scaling LigniOx™ technology
ANDRITZ’s LigniOx™ technology focuses on recovering and modifying lignin from pulp mill side streams to create higher-value applications. Moving from pilot validation to demonstration scale represents a key step toward industrial deployment.
The partners previously collaborated under the LigniOx EU project coordinated by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, where modified lignin was successfully tested as a fossil-based chemical substitute in concrete production. The new demo plant builds on those results, bringing the process closer to commercial implementation.
Supporting circular bioeconomy goals
By integrating lignin refining into existing pulp mill operations, the initiative demonstrates how industrial partnerships can accelerate the transition toward low-carbon, renewable materials. The project highlights the potential of pulp mill side streams as feedstock for advanced material solutions, supporting broader decarbonization and circular economy objectives in construction and materials industries.
www.andritz.com
