The Global Market for Lignin Biomaterials & Biochemicals 2025-2035

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  • Published: September 2024
  • Pages: 188
  • Tables: 28
  • Figures: 53

 

Lignin, the second most abundant natural polymer after cellulose, is rapidly gaining importance in the global shift towards sustainable and bio-based materials. As a by-product of the pulp and paper industry and biorefineries, lignin represents a vast, renewable resource that has been historically underutilized. The growing focus on reducing dependence on fossil-based materials and the push for circular economy solutions have spotlighted lignin's potential as a versatile biomaterial and a source of valuable biochemicals. The importance of lignin biomaterials and biochemicals lies in their ability to replace petroleum-based products across multiple industries. Lignin's complex structure, rich in aromatic compounds, makes it an ideal precursor for high-value chemicals and materials. Its potential applications range from biofuels and bioplastics to carbon fibers and energy storage materials, offering sustainable alternatives in sectors such as automotive, construction, packaging, and electronics.

Market prospects for lignin-based products are increasingly promising. The global lignin market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by factors such as increased environmental regulations, growing consumer demand for sustainable products, and technological advancements in lignin extraction and modification processes. High-value applications, such as carbon fibers and aromatic chemicals, are particularly poised for growth, as they offer substantial environmental benefits and performance advantages over traditional materials.

This comprehensive market report provides an in-depth analysis of the global lignin market, covering the period from 2025 to 2035. As industries worldwide seek sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based products, lignin has emerged as a promising bio-based material with diverse applications. Report Contents include: 

  • Introduction to Lignin
    • Definition and structure of lignin
    • Types of lignin (sulfur-containing, sulfur-free)
    • Properties and characteristics
    • The lignocellulose biorefinery concept
    • Current markets and applications
    • Market challenges
  • Lignin Production Processes
    • Feedstock preprocessing
    • Conversion processes (thermochemical, chemical, biological, electrochemical)
    • Detailed analysis of lignin types:
      • Lignosulfonates
      • Kraft lignin
      • Soda lignin
      • Biorefinery lignin (including organosolv, hydrolytic, and steam-exploded lignin)
    • Emerging technologies: lignin nanoparticles, lignin-based carbon materials, depolymerized lignin products, and lignin-based bioplastics
  • Market Analysis
    • Market drivers and trends
    • Industry developments (2020-2024)
    • Production capacities (technical lignin and biorefinery lignin)
    • Consumption patterns by lignin type, market, and region
    • Pricing trends
  • Markets and Applications
    • Energy (heat and power, bio-oils, syngas)
    • Aromatic compounds (BTX, phenol, vanillin)
    • Polymers and hydrogels
    • Carbon materials (carbon black, activated carbons, carbon fiber)
    • Construction materials
    • Rubber, bitumen, and asphalt
    • Fuels
    • Energy storage (supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries)
    • Binders, emulsifiers, and dispersants
    • Coatings and ceramics
    • Automotive applications
    • Specialty applications (fire retardants, antioxidants, lubricants, dust control)
  • Company Profiles: Detailed profiles of key players and emerging companies in the lignin market. Companies profiled include Aemetis, Andritz, Anellotech, Attis Innovations, Avantium, Blue Biofuels, Bloom Biorenewables, Boreal Bioproducts, Borregaard Group, Bright Day Graphene, Burgo Group, Carbon Crusher, Cellicon, CH-Bioforce, Chempolis, CIMV, Clariant, Domsjö Fabriker, Domtar Paper Company, Enerkem, Enviral, Fibenol, FiberX, FP Innovations, Fraunhofer CBP, Fraunhofer LBF, Futurity Bio-Ventures, G+E GETEC Holding, Global Bioenergies, Graanul Invest, Granbio Technologies, Hexion, Ingevity, Iogen, Kanematsu, Kanteleen Voima, Klabin, Koehler Group, Leaf Resources, Ligna Energy, LignEasy, Lignin Industries, Lignoflow Technologies, Lignolix, Lignomateria, LignOrganic, Lignovations, LignoPure, Liquid Lignin Company, Lixea, LXP Group, Mehler Engineered Products, Mercer International, Metgen, Mobius, NewEnergyBlue, Nippon Paper Industries, Novozymes, Obayashi, ORLEN Południe, Praj Industries, Prefere Resins Holding, Prisma Renewable Composites, Proligreen........and more.
  • Comprehensive Market Data: The report provides detailed market size data, growth projections, and revenue forecasts for various segments of the lignin market from 2025 to 2035.
  • Regional Analysis: Breakdown of lignin consumption by region, providing a global perspective on market dynamics.
  • Future Outlook: Analysis of emerging applications and potential future developments in the lignin market.
  • Detailed SWOT analyses for different types of lignin, helping stakeholders understand the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in various market segments.
  • Analysis of biorefinery lignin, including commercial and pre-commercial production facilities and processes, highlighting the shift towards more sustainable and efficient lignin production methods.
  • Exploration of high-value applications such as carbon fibers, energy storage materials, and aromatic compounds, showcasing lignin's potential to replace petroleum-based products.
  • Insights into market drivers and challenges, including regulatory factors, technological advancements, and changing consumer preferences.
  • Examination of lignin's role in the circular bioeconomy and its potential to contribute to sustainability goals across industries.

 

Who Should Read This Report

  • Executives and strategists in the chemical and materials industries
  • Researchers and R&D professionals in biomaterials and green chemistry
  • Investors and financial analysts focusing on sustainable technologies
  • Policy makers and regulators in the fields of renewable materials and bioeconomy
  • Sustainability officers in industries such as packaging, construction, and automotive
  • Procurement specialists looking for bio-based alternatives to traditional materials

 

 

1             RESEARCH METHODOLOGY              12

 

2             INTRODUCTION          13

  • 2.1        What is lignin?              13
    • 2.1.1    Lignin structure             15
  • 2.2        Types of lignin               17
    • 2.2.1    Sulfur containing lignin           19
    • 2.2.2    Sulfur-free lignin from biorefinery process 20
  • 2.3        Properties         20
  • 2.4        The lignocellulose biorefinery             23
  • 2.5        Markets and applications      24
  • 2.6        Market challenges      27

 

3             LIGNIN PRODUCTION PROCESSES               29

  • 3.1        Feedstock Preprocessing      30
  • 3.2        Conversion Processes             31
    • 3.2.1    Thermochemical Conversion              31
    • 3.2.2    Chemical Conversion              31
    • 3.2.3    Biological Conversion              31
    • 3.2.4    Electrochemical Conversion               32
  • 3.3        Lignosulphonates       32
    • 3.3.1    Description     32
    • 3.3.2    SWOT analysis              33
  • 3.4        Kraft Lignin      33
    • 3.4.1    Description     33
    • 3.4.2    LignoBoost process   34
    • 3.4.3    LignoForce method    35
    • 3.4.4    Sequential Liquid Lignin Recovery and Purification              35
    • 3.4.5    A-Recovery+   36
    • 3.4.6    SWOT analysis              37
  • 3.5        Soda lignin      39
    • 3.5.1    Description     39
    • 3.5.2    SWOT analysis              40
  • 3.6        Biorefinery lignin         41
    • 3.6.1    Products Extraction & Purification   43
    • 3.6.2    Lignocellulose Biorefinery Economics          44
    • 3.6.3    Commercial and pre-commercial biorefinery lignin production facilities and  processes          44
    • 3.6.4    SWOT analysis              46
    • 3.6.5    Organosolv lignin        47
      • 3.6.5.1 Description     47
      • 3.6.5.2 SWOT analysis              48
    • 3.6.6    Hydrolytic lignin           49
      • 3.6.6.1 Description     49
      • 3.6.6.2 SWOT analysis              49
    • 3.6.7    Steam Exploded Lignin           51
      • 3.6.7.1 Description     51
      • 3.6.7.2 SWOT analysis              52
  • 3.7        Lignin nanoparticles 53
  • 3.8        Lignin-based carbon materials          53
  • 3.9        Depolymerized lignin products          54
  • 3.10     Lignin-based bioplastics        54

 

4             MARKETS FOR LIGNIN              56

  • 4.1        Market drivers and trends      57
  • 4.2        Lignin industry developments 2020-2024  58
  • 4.3        Production capacities              61
    • 4.3.1    Technical lignin availability (dry ton/y)           61
    • 4.3.2    Biomass conversion (Biorefinery)    62
  • 4.4        Consumption of lignin             62
    • 4.4.1    By type                63
    • 4.4.2    By market         65
  • 4.5        By region           67
  • 4.6        Prices  69
  • 4.7        Markets and applications      69
    • 4.7.1    Heat and power energy            69
    • 4.7.2    Bio-oils              70
    • 4.7.3    Syngas               70
    • 4.7.4    Aromatic compounds              71
      • 4.7.4.1 Benzene, toluene and xylene               73
      • 4.7.4.2 Phenol and phenolic resins  74
      • 4.7.4.3 Vanillin               74
    • 4.7.5    Polymers           75
    • 4.7.6    Hydrogels         77
      • 4.7.6.1 Adhesives         77
    • 4.7.7    Carbon materials        78
      • 4.7.7.1 Carbon black 78
      • 4.7.7.2 Activated carbons      79
      • 4.7.7.3 Carbon fiber   80
    • 4.7.8    Construction materials           81
    • 4.7.9    Rubber               82
    • 4.7.10 Bitumen and Asphalt                83
    • 4.7.11 Fuels    84
    • 4.7.12 Energy storage              85
      • 4.7.12.1            Supercapacitors          85
      • 4.7.12.2            Anodes for lithium-ion batteries        87
      • 4.7.12.3            Gel electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries     88
      • 4.7.12.4            Binders for lithium-ion batteries        88
      • 4.7.12.5            Cathodes for lithium-ion batteries   88
      • 4.7.12.6            Sodium-ion batteries                89
    • 4.7.13 Binders, emulsifiers and dispersants            89
    • 4.7.14 Chelating agents         92
    • 4.7.15 Coatings            92
    • 4.7.16 Ceramics          94
    • 4.7.17 Automotive      94
    • 4.7.18 Fire retardants              95
    • 4.7.19 Antioxidants   95
    • 4.7.20 Lubricants       96
    • 4.7.21 Dust control    97

 

5             COMPANY PROFILES                98 (94 company profiles)

 

6             REFERENCES 184

 

List of Tables

  • Table 1. Properties of lignins and their applications.           15
  • Table 2. Technical lignin types and applications.   18
  • Table 3. Classification of technical lignins. 20
  • Table 4. Properties of lignin, by type.              20
  • Table 5. Lignin content of selected biomass.           22
  • Table 6. Markets and applications for lignin.             26
  • Table 7. Market challenges for lignin.             27
  • Table 8. Processes for lignin production.     29
  • Table 9. Biorefinery feedstocks.        41
  • Table 10. Comparison of pulping and biorefinery lignins. 41
  • Table 11. Commercial and pre-commercial biorefinery lignin production facilities and  processes    44
  • Table 12. Markets for lignin. 56
  • Table 13. Market drivers and trends for lignin.         57
  • Table 14. Lignin industry developments 2020-2024.           58
  • Table 15. Production capacities of technical lignin producers.    61
  • Table 16. Production capacities of biorefinery lignin producers. 62
  • Table 17. Estimated consumption of lignin, by type, 2019-2035 (00,000 Tons). 63
  • Table 18. Estimated consumption of lignin, by market, 2019-2035 (00,000 Tons).          65
  • Table 19. Estimated consumption of lignin, by market, 2019-2035 (00,000 Tons).          67
  • Table 20. Lignin aromatic compound products.     72
  • Table 21. Prices of benzene, toluene, xylene and their derivatives.            73
  • Table 22. Lignin products in polymeric materials. 75
  • Table 23. Application of lignin in plastics and composites.             76
  • Table 24. Applications of lignin in construction materials.              81
  • Table 25. Lignin applications in rubber and elastomers.   83
  • Table 26. Lignin products in fuels.    85
  • Table 27. Lignin-derived anodes in lithium batteries.          87
  • Table 28. Application of lignin in binders, emulsifiers and dispersants. 90

 

List of Figures

  • Figure 1. Wood processing within the Kraft process.           14
  • Figure 2. High purity lignin.   15
  • Figure 3. Lignocellulose architecture.            17
  • Figure 4. Extraction processes to separate lignin from lignocellulosic biomass and corresponding technical lignins.        18
  • Figure 5. The lignocellulose biorefinery.       23
  • Figure 6. Lignocellulosic biomass conversion and products.        24
  • Figure 7. Lignosulfonates SWOT analysis.  33
  • Figure 8. LignoBoost process.            34
  • Figure 9. LignoForce system for lignin recovery from black liquor.              35
  • Figure 10. Sequential liquid-lignin recovery and purification (SLPR) system.      36
  • Figure 11. A-Recovery+ chemical recovery concept.           37
  • Figure 12. Kraft lignin SWOT analysis.           38
  • Figure 13. Soda lignin SWOT analysis.          40
  • Figure 14.  Schematic of a biorefinery for production of carriers and chemicals.             43
  • Figure 15. Biorefinery lignin SWOT analysis.             46
  • Figure 16. Organosolv lignin.               47
  • Figure 17. Organosolv lignin SWOT analysis.            48
  • Figure 18. Hydrolytic lignin powder. 49
  • Figure 19. Hydrolytic lignin SWOT analysis.              50
  • Figure 20. Steam Exploded Lignin SWOT analysis.               52
  • Figure 21. Estimated consumption of lignin, by type, 2019-2035 (00,000 Tons).              64
  • Figure 22. Estimated consumption of lignin, by market, 2019-2035 (00,000 Tons).        66
  • Figure 23. Estimated consumption of lignin, by market, 2019-2035 (00,000 Tons).        68
  • Figure 24. Schematic of WISA plywood home.        74
  • Figure 25. Lignin based activated carbon.  80
  • Figure 26. Lignin/celluose precursor.             81
  • Figure 27. Functional rubber filler made from lignin.           83
  • Figure 28. Road repair utilizing lignin.            84
  • Figure 29. Prototype of lignin based supercapacitor.           86
  • Figure 30. Stora Enso lignin battery materials.         89
  • Figure 31. ANDRITZ Lignin Recovery process.          101
  • Figure 32. DAWN Technology Process.         104
  • Figure 33. BALI™ technology.                108
  • Figure 34. Pressurized Hot Water Extraction.            112
  • Figure 35. sunliquid® production process. 116
  • Figure 36. Domsjö process.  117
  • Figure 37.  TMP-Bio Process.               121
  • Figure 38. Flow chart of the lignocellulose biorefinery pilot plant in Leuna.         122
  • Figure 39. AVAPTM process. 127
  • Figure 40. GreenPower+™ process.  128
  • Figure 41. Renol in packaging.           136
  • Figure 42. Lignin gel. 137
  • Figure 43. BioFlex process.   142
  • Figure 44. LX Process.              144
  • Figure 45. METNIN™ Lignin refining technology.      147
  • Figure 46. Enfinity cellulosic ethanol technology process.              154
  • Figure 47: Plantrose process.              160
  • Figure 48. Hansa lignin.          164
  • Figure 49. Stora Enso lignin battery materials.         170
  • Figure 50. Solid Novolac Type lignin modified phenolic resins.    171
  • Figure 51. UPM biorefinery process.               177
  • Figure 52. The Proesa® Process.        179
  • Figure 53. Goldilocks process and applications.   180

 

 

           

The Global Market for Lignin Biomaterials & Biochemicals 2025-2035
The Global Market for Lignin Biomaterials & Biochemicals 2025-2035
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The Global Market for Lignin Biomaterials & Biochemicals 2025-2035
The Global Market for Lignin Biomaterials & Biochemicals 2025-2035
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