Zero Emission Biochemical and Renewable Additives

Introduction

Europe is the second largest producer of pulp and paper in the world. In 2019, over 38 billion tonnes were produced on the continent, resulting in 20% of the global pulp production. This industry is responsible for 11 million tonnes of waste in Europe alone, waste that will end up in landfills or refuse sites.

Waste Issues

A significant portion of this waste is black liquor, a toxic waste that is predominantly burnt for energy recovery or sent for disposal.

Innovative Solution

CENER has developed a unique thermo-oxidative depolymerization process to extract high value-added bioaromatic compounds from lignin. These compounds can be used to substitute the existing fossil fuel-based additives in the market and have many other applications, including:

• Rubber
• Fuels
• Lubricants
• Food industry
• Cosmetics

Project Goals

The ZEBRA-LIFE project addresses two important problems:

1. Waste production by the pulp and paper industry
2. Environmental and health impacts caused by the production and use of synthetic additives in multiple industrial products

Technology Development

The technology developed for the ZEBRA-LIFE project (lignin depolymerizations + downstream formulation) enables paper mills to valorize their black liquor by-product in the form of a natural antioxidant (AOx) and UV filter product, creating a new circular value chain.

Potential Impacts

The potential impacts of this project include:

• Reducing the damage to the environment from the paper and pulp industry (waste, GHG emissions, etc.)
• Increasing employment in various sectors
• Implementation of a circular economy with upscale developments
• Renewable energy production from a locally sourced product