Black liquor is a material that is completely underestimated. In Germany 98% (=50 million tons per year) are incinerated. The side product of the paper industry contains a promising biopolymer: lignin. As the second most common polymer on earth, it could play an important role in the development away from petroleum-based substances and towards biobased substances. In our project BLACK LIQUOR, together with the wood research institute Fraunhofer WKI, we have developed new approaches to how the polymer can be used more often in the future.The developed materials are harmless in production and are based on renewable raw materials and industrial side products. They help to transfer existing waste streams into new material cycles and prevent CO2 emissions. This has resulted in a range of material properties and application possibilities: From board materials for furniture construction to flexible leather alternatives for the fashion industry.
For more information, please visit theproject's website black liquor
