Metsä Group's demo plant for new lignin product starts up in Äänekoski

Metsä Group has started up a demo plant for a new lignin product at its bioproduct mill in Äänekoski. The plant has a nameplate capacity of two tons per day and utilizes lignin extracted from the pulp production side streams as its raw material.

The plant was built in cooperation with equipment supplier ANDRITZ. Materials science company Dow is a key partner in the development. Metsä Group's new lignin product is named Metsä LigO™.

"Our aim is to utilize wood raw material as efficiently as possible and generate the greatest possible added value," said Ismo Nousiainen, CEO of Metsä Fibre. Lignin, which has previously often been utilized as bioenergy, is now being explored as a replacement for fossil-based raw materials in applications such as construction.

The purpose of the demo plant is to ensure the functionality of the production process, as well as the product's characteristics and suitability for the market. If the objectives are met, the next step will be to design and potentially construct a full-scale production plant. In collaboration with Dow, bio-based plasticizers for concrete and gypsum applications are being developed.