Softwood‐based, high‐quality organosolv lignin as a sustainable raw material for greener and cost‐effective industrial applications

Abstract The Finnish company NordFuel Oy is planning to build a bioproduct factory in Haapavesi, Finland, with a start‐up date at the end of this decade. The process will be based on organosolv‐type fractionation, which allows the production of high‐quality bioproducts from wood‐based biomass. One of the main bioproducts of the organosolv process is lignin, which has been a topic of intensive research in recent years. Lignin is already used in industrial resins but new process technologies, such as the organosolv process, will expand the application possibilities greatly in the future. In this study, we have analyzed the properties of lab‐scale and pilot‐scale lignin samples produced with proprietary Chempolis organosolv technology. The results show that the lignin samples produced have an extraordinary purity level with minimal amounts of process chemical residues, sulfur, or other unwanted components. This opens up new opportunities for application developers. Pure softwood‐based organosolv lignin can enable new products and cost‐effective solutions.