AbitibiBowater plant could start shipping revolutionary product

Thunder Bay's AbitibiBowater pulp and paper mill is about to start shipping out a new product that could revolutionize the forest industry.

The plant is working with FP Innovations and the Centre for Research and Innovation in the bio-economy to produce 100 kilograms of lignin per day.

Lignin is a byproduct of the pulping process, and is basically the glue that holds wood together. Plant general manager Doug Murray says it is also the most common element in nature, and researchers believe it could be used for a range of products currently made using petroleum or steel.

Lignin reaction vessels have already been set up inside the plant, and experts from FP Innovations are working on-site to monitor the extraction process.

The samples will be shipped to universities and research labs around North America, which will test it for conversion into resins, carbon black for tires, chemicals for plastics, or perhaps even carbon fibre, which Murray calls the Holy Grail for lignin researchers.

If other uses for lignin are successful, the Thunder Bay mill could one day include a full-scale production plant.

CEO of CRIBE, Lorne Morrow, will be away from the city this week. He said a larger announcement about the lignin partnership is expected to take place at the end of June.