Modifying New Potential for Lignin-Rich Fibers

In the push for Emission Free Pulping, researchers are redefining how we approach biomass utilization by aiming at higher pulping yields. A team led by Prof. Tiina Nypelö at Aalto University, including Researcher Huy Quang Lê, doctoral researcher Pranav Arumughan and master's student Asfar Khan, is tackling one of the critical challenges of high-yield pulping: dealing with lignin-rich fibers.

Traditional pulping methods often remove lignin, but in the emission-free approaches the aim is to retain it, increasing the pulping yield from 50% to 70%. However, the hydrophobic nature of lignin poses challenges for fiber-to-fiber bonding and consequently the product applications. This team is tackling the problem by working on surface modification techniques—using ozone, oxidation, and some fresh approaches using cations, to make lignin hydrophilic, improving fiber properties such as strength and dimensional stability for applications like stronger paper, better recyclability, and potential new uses in different bio-based materials and composites.

This project not only explores how to modify these fibers but also aims to bridge the gap between fundamental research and industrial applications, creating new value streams from biomass.