LignoValue Pilot Plant achieves 72-hour continuous run
VITO's LignoValue Pilot Plant has confirmed its technological robustness with a successful continuous run of 72 hours, during which nearly two tonnes of lignin-rich feed were stably processed. This stable, continuous operation is an important step in the further scale-up of reductive catalytic processes for the valorisation of lignin toward industrial scale. VITO's pilot infrastructure for the processing and valorisation of lignin consists of the PILLAR II unit (dissolution/extraction of lignin) and the LignoValue Pilot unit (reductive catalytic depolymerisation of lignin). PILLAR II was developed with the Later Stage Innovation (LSI) support of Moonshot Flanders.
Since its opening in 2024, the pilot plant has successfully scaled up the continuous processes originally developed in the laboratory, achieving consistent product quality at a pilot scale. This effort has now reached an important milestone: a successful continuous run lasting 72 hours. During this period, 40 kg/h of lignin-based feedstock was processed, laying the groundwork for further scale-up.
Unique in Europe
The LignoValue Pilot Plant is Europe’s first and only pilot line dedicated to depolymerising lignin into bio-aromatics. The plant (and by extension the broader pilot infrastructure platform) forms a vital bridge between laboratory research and industrial production and enables companies to de-risk and accelerate the adoption of bio-based solutions. Furthermore, the pilot line, comprising the PILLAR II and LignoValue plants, has been designed and built with flexibility in mind, allowing for the testing of various process conditions. This enables bio-aromatics and refined fractions to be developed and optimised for a wide range of market applications.
The added value of lignin and bio-aromatics for industry
Lignin, a by-product of industries such as the pulp and paper sector, offers a promising alternative to fossil-based aromatics, which currently account for around 40% of all chemicals. By investing in bio-aromatics, companies can reduce their dependence on finite fossil raw materials while simultaneously developing less toxic, high-performance materials.
The bio-aromatics and lignin-based intermediates from the LignoValue Pilot Plant open up opportunities for applications such as coatings, resins and composites, for instance as a bio-based alternative to epoxy resins in which components such as bisphenol A are gradually being phased out. In the process, the pilot plant supports the development of new value chains for circular, bio-based materials in sectors such as construction, chemicals and high-performance materials.
Further expansion of the LignoValue Pilot
VITO is currently working on a further expansion of the pilot infrastructure for the processing and valorisation of lignin within the recently approved ERDF project RECIPE (Post-processing of plant-based chemicals). This expansion includes the construction of a pilot-scale post-processing unit for the efficient removal of the solvent used in the process, at sufficiently high capacity.
In addition, a multi-purpose reactor will be designed and built for the chemical modification and synthesis of lignin-based building blocks. By altering properties such as functionality, the building blocks will better meet the requirements for further processing in applications such as polymers and additives.
This new infrastructure will add important links to the process for valorising lignin towards industrial applications, helping to de-risk the step from laboratory scale to large-scale industrial processes.
PILLAR II: supported by Moonshot
As an extension of the LignoValue Pilot, the PILLAR II unit is dedicated to preprocessing and liquefying lignin from biomass, such as wood pulp. The liquefied lignin can be fed directly into the LignoValue Pilot, where it is converted into valuable, sustainable bio‑aromatics.
Opened in 2024 within the context of Moonshot Flanders’ LSI project PILLAR, the pilot unit demonstrates lignin conversion technologies at a relevant scale (TRL 5–6), bridging the gap between laboratory research and industrial biorefinery. By paving the way for competitive production of bio‑based chemicals, it supports the transition away from fossil feedstocks in the industry and contributes to reducing the carbon footprint in Flanders.
Read more about the PILLAR project
The original article in Dutch can be found on VITO's website.