Researchers Map Out Process to Extract Chemicals from Wood

TAGS:  Biobased Solutions    

An interdisciplinary team of bioscience engineers and economists from KU Leuven has mapped out how wood could replace petroleum in the chemical industry. They not only looked at the technological requirements, but also whether that scenario would be financially viable. A shift from petroleum to wood would lead to a reduction in CO₂ emissions, the researchers state in Science.

Replace Petroleum in the Chemical Industry

To extract chemicals from wood, it is first split into a solid paper pulp and a liquid lignin oil using a chemical reactor. The pulp can be used to produce second generation biofuels or natural insulation, while the lignin oil, like petroleum oil, can be further processed to manufacture chemical building blocks, such as phenol, propylene, and components to create ink. The lignin can also be used to make alternative building blocks for plastics. Chemical compounds based on lignin are less harmful to humans, compared to those made from petroleum.

"What's so special about this study is that we calculated the economic viability of a switch from petroleum to wood," says Professor Sels. To create a realistic scenario, the researchers joined forces with a Belgian-Japanese ink company. This is because certain compounds from lignin can be used to make ink. The calculations indicate that a chemical plant that uses wood as a raw material can be profitable after a few years.

Minimizing CO₂ Emissions

Using wood-based chemicals makes it possible to store CO₂ in objects like plastics. The environmental cost of using wood would be smaller than when using petroleum, since chemical compounds made from wood cause less CO₂ emissions. Moreover, products made from wood derivatives can store CO₂, just like trees do. "As a result, it would be possible to store carbon from CO₂ in plastics - preferably recyclable ones," Sels said.

To demonstrate the application of their research, the team will now scale up the production process. The first test phase has already started. Ultimately, they want to create a wood biorefinery in Belgium. In the meantime, the researchers are in conversation with various business partners who can process the cellulose pulp and lignin oil in a variety of products.

“The chemical sector emits a lot of CO₂ globally. A serious change is needed to achieve a carbon neutral chemistry," says Bert Lagrain. “By scaling up our research project, we hope to get the industry on board.”

Source: KU Leuven