IPB University Professor Introduces Technology to Utilise Indonesia’s Abundant Lignin Resources
Prof Deded Sarip Nawawi, Professor of Wood Chemistry at IPB University, explained that technology is needed for lignin valorisation as an effort to diversify products and efficient use of forest resources. According to him, lignin valorisation or increasing the use value of lignin is important in utilising the abundant lignin resources in Indonesia.
He explained that lignin is the second largest natural polymer of plant cell walls after cellulose with a content of around 15-35 per cent. However, the biorefinery industry currently relies on cellulose-based utilisation, such as the pulp and paper industry or bioethanol, while lignin as a by-product is still considered of low value. In fact, based on data from the Ministry of Industry, in 2021, recorded pulp production in 2021 reached 11.8 million tonnes with the potential for lignin in black leachate to reach 5-6 million tonnes.
“The largest use of lignin at present is as fuel, which reaches 98 per cent. Based on its chemical structure, lignin has great potential as a raw material for various biomaterial and chemical products, but lignin is a polymer with a complex and diverse structure that raises its own challenges in its utilisation,” said Prof Deded Sarip Nawawi in a press conference before his Professor oration at IPB University, 22/5.
The Professor of the Faculty of Forestry and Environment explained that research on the chemical characteristics and biorefinery of lignin would be the basis for innovation and development of process technology and diversification of lignin-based products. Meanwhile, he said, the potential of lignin production is getting bigger in line with the development of technology to utilise lignocellulosic biomass based on polysaccharides (cellulose and hemicellulose) such as the production of pulp-paper, rayon, nano cellulose, and bioethanol.
He said, to increase the use value, lignin valorisation can be done through the strategy of using lignin as a macromolecule. The use of lignin as a macromolecule can be done either without treatment or with functionalisation; for example, for energy, composites, nanomaterials, adhesives, carbon fibre, polyurethane, and fire retardant additives.
The lecturer of the Department of Forest Products of IPB University said that based on research in collaboration with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the application of lignin and lignosulfonate isolated from pulp industry waste can improve the fire resistance properties of rattan products with the weight of the burning mass decreasing by around 40-60 per cent. Not only that, lignin can also be made into bioplastics or biofilms with low hydrophilicity and antimicrobial properties for application as seed dressing and textile fibres.
“Lignin can serve as an adhesive resin material for composite wood products and a substitute for polyols in the manufacture of polyurethane products. In the energy sector, lignin is known to have high calorific value and has potential as an additive material for energy fortifier and energy storage for super capacitor battery products,” he said.
He added that another strategy to utilise lignin is the production of low molecular weight compounds such as vanillin, benzene, toluene, xylene, phenol, and other phenolic compounds. According to him, vanillin products in the world still come from the petrochemical industry which reaches 81-88 per cent, others from lignin 11-14 per cent, and natural vanillin from vanilla plants around 1-5 per cent. Other studies have also tried to synthesise lignin into low molecular weight phenolic compounds for benzene, toluene, xylene (BTX) and other aromatic compounds.
“Lignin valorisation can be an integrated part of lignocellulosic biorefineries so that it can support the efficient use of forest biomaterial resources in a sustainable manner through increased product diversification and added value,” he explained.
He added that the development of bioproducts from lignocellulose, including lignin bioproducts, is projected to be increasingly attractive along with the depletion of petroleum resources, increasing public attention to climate change and the environment, trends related to green products/green chemistry, environmentally friendly products, renewable nature, and sustainable economy. (IAAS/RUM)
