Lignol Energy, a Canadian company engaged in the development of biorefining technologies, has entered into a five-year joint development and commercialization contract with FPInnovations, a not-for-profit R&D firm, to develop high-value commercial applications for cellulose made using Lignol's biorefining process.
The highly reactive cellulose produced using Lignol's integrated biorefining platform can be used to produce cellulose-based materials, sugar platform chemicals and biofuels. Cellulose-based materials have several industrial applications, including food products, paper and textiles.
Lignol's President and CEO, Ross MacLachlan pointed out that the economics of Lignol's biorefinery platform will be improved and the markets for this technology will be diversified, as it has the potential to produce value-added cellulose-based materials. The agreement will enable Lignol to use FPInnovations' global experience and intellectual property in creating materials that meet the rising worldwide demand for renewable products for replacing mineral-based and fossil-carbon materials.
FPInnovations's President and CEO, Pierre Lapointe noted that the partnership with Lignol has been beneficial that leads to the successful development of commercial wood composite applications using unique lignin formulations from Lignol. Both the companies will continue the success by developing high-value cellulose materials that can be applied to the forest products industry in Canada. The collaboration supports FPInnovations' aim to capitalize on Canada's fiber attributes and develop new products as well as market opportunities within an environmental sustainability framework.