IMX Talk - Fibenol - an enabler of making most sustainable specialty cellulose price competitive

Fibenol, in its commitment to sustainability, has established an innovative biorefinery that became operational in 2023. This facility is dedicated to transforming 30,000 tons per annum of residual hardwood into essential chemical building blocks, including lignin, cellulosic sugars, and microcrystalline cellulose. These products play a pivotal role in fostering sustainability within the chemical industry by substituting fossil-based chemicals with bio-derived alternatives.

The biorefinery employs cutting-edge Sunburst™ pre-treatment technology, integrating mechanical grinding, dilute acid catalysis, and steam explosion in a remarkably swift process of under 30 seconds. The resulting extrusion-based lignin, known as LIGNOVA™, closely mimics the native lignin structure and boasts minimal sulfur content, rendering it virtually odor-free. Additionally, the cellulosic sugars, equivalent in quality to food-based sugars, exhibit significantly reduced water and land use. Fibenol's microcrystalline cellulose stands out as a versatile raw material, serving diverse industries as a rheology modifier, barrier material, or strength additive.

Over the past two years, Fibenol has fine-tuned its microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) process, ensuring compatibility with various applications where specialty celluloses like MFC, CNF, and CNC are prevalent. The company is now poised to demonstrate the advantageous applications of its specialty celluloses, particularly in paper and board, as well as paper coatings.

A cornerstone of Fibenol's mission is the sustainability of its products. The company is dedicated to quantifying its environmental impact and proudly presents the latest calculations on its footprint, positioning its specialty celluloses as the most sustainable option in the market. Fibenol remains steadfast in its pursuit of providing environmentally conscious alternatives, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.

Bio: Dr. Gert Preegel completed his doctoral studies in 2016 from Tallinn University of Technology. In 2017, he started his first post doctorate on the topic of Oil Shale Selective Oxidation as the Head of Industrial Chemistry laboratory in Taltech. In 2019, he chaged his focus from fossils to biomass and continued his studies in KU Leuven. In 2021, he joined Fibenol’s Research and Development team where he focuses on the research and development of microcrystalline cellulose and customer acquisition.