TY - JOUR AU - Cline, Stephen P. AU - Smith, Paul M. PY - 2017 DA - 2017/08/28 TI - Opportunities for lignin valorization: an exploratory process JO - Energy, Sustainability and Society SP - 26 VL - 7 IS - 1 AB - For decades, the pulp industry has struggled to create sustainable value-added opportunities for lignin, and the issue is now at the forefront of second-generation biorefinery research and development efforts. Our work presents a sequential process for examining potential lignin valorization. The chemical and physical properties of lignin cause issues in isolation, characterization, and standardization and, therefore, product manufacturing. First, a short list of high-opportunity lignin products was developed from the literature. Several low-hanging product opportunities were identified, from which, lignin-based powdered activated carbon (PAC) for the sequestration of mercury from power plant flue gas was selected for further examination due, in part, to lignin’s similarity to lignite coal. Next, an analysis of the web-based written content of PAC suppliers’ promotional materials was performed to assess the attributes on which PAC products are sold and purchased. Finally, potential electric generating power plant buyers/users of lignin-based PAC for mercury sequestration were surveyed to examine the importance of 16 PAC product and service attributes, identify potential entry barriers for a new PAC product, and assess the market opportunity for lignin-based PAC. SN - 2192-0567 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-017-0129-9 DO - 10.1186/s13705-017-0129-9 ID - Cline2017 ER -