Lignin

Extraction from Black Liquor

Benefits (Tomani, 2010):
Economical revenues resulting from secondary by-product, lignin, which can be either
commercialized or used within the pulp mill to reduce production costs.
Additional advantage of providing an incremental capacity in the chemical recovery area,
so that it can be used to off-load the recovery boiler or to avoid expansion, when pulp
production is increased.

Uses for lignin (Tomani, 2010):
Dry lignin powder can be used as a biofuel in the lime kiln as an alternative for fossil fuels.
Lignin can be used in other burners boilers (as opposed to fossil fuels), specifically boilers
in which corrosion from chlorides is a problem.
Lignin can be commercialized and sold as a biofuel.

Conventional extraction method (Kouisni, Holt-Hindle, Maki, & Paleologou, 2012):
Process:
1. Black liquor acidification, generally using carbon dioxide or a mineral acid to drop
the pH from 13-13.5 to 9-10.
2. Filtration using a belt filter or a filter press.
3. Washing using acid (sulphuric acid) and water to produce a lignin of high purity.
Shortcomings/Disadvantages:
o Size of particles prior to filtration makes it difficult to separate lignin from acidified
black liquor (filtration resistance).
o Large amount of acid required to induce lignin to come out of solution.
o Emission of totally reduced sulfur compounds throughout process
o Complete or partial plugging of the filter cake/medium, resulting in high levels of
impurities in the lignin and the need for large filter areas (Tomani, 2010).
Two methods to address shortcomings: LignoForce and LignoBoost systems.

The LignoForce System

Major addition to conventional method: Oxidation of black liquor prior to acidification to
destroy reduced sulfur compounds as well as to oxidize certain organics to organic acids (Kouisni
& Paleologou, 2011).

Advantages (Kouisni & Paleologou, 2011):
Improves filterability of acid-precipitated lignin from Kraft black liquors.
Increases the dry solids content of the final lignin product
Reduces the acid requirements of the process
Minimizes or eliminates totally reduced sulfur emissions.
Does not significantly alter the chemical composition, molecular weight distribution or
main functional groups within the lignin when compared to conventional method.

Block Flow Diagram (Kouisni & Paleologou, 2011):

The LignoBoost System

Major addition to conventional method: As opposed to washing lignin immediately after
filtration, filter cake is re-dispersed and acidified. The resulting slurry is then filtered and washed
by means of displacement washing (Tomani, 2010).

Advantages (Tomani, 2010):
Filter area and acidic washing water requirements are reduced, resulting in lower
investment costs.
Sulfuric acid requirements can be reduced, resulting in lower operating costs.
A higher yield of lignin is obtained.
The lignin has a lower ash and carbohydrate content and has a higher content of dry
solids.

Block Flow Diagram (hman, Theliander, Tomani, & Axegard, 2012):

References
hman, F., Theliander, H., Tomani, P., & Axegard, P. (2012). Patent No. EP1794363 B1. European

Union.

Kouisni, L., & Paleologou, M. (2011). Patent No. US 20110297240 A1. United States of America.
Kouisni, L., Holt-Hindle, P., Maki, K., & Paleologou, M. (2012). The LignoForce System: A New

Process for the Production of High-Quality Lignin from Black Liquor. Journal of Science &

Technology for Forest Products and Processes , 2 (4), 6-10.

Tomani, P. (2010). The LignoBoost Process. Cellulose Chemistry and Technology (44), 53-58.