In the global push toward sustainability, one of the most promising yet underutilized natural resources is lignin. Traditionally regarded as a low-value byproduct of the pulp and paper industry, lignin is now at the forefront of innovative research aimed at transforming it into high-value products.
TalTech senior researcher of Chemistry and Biotechnology department Yevgen Karpichev and from his sustainable chemistry and engineering team early-stage researcher Mahendra Kothottil Mohan, deeply involved in lignin valorization research, shed light on the growing importance of this biopolymer and its vast industrial potential.
Lignin, a complex aromatic biopolymer, is produced in massive quantities—around 75 million tons per year—largely as a byproduct of the pulp and paper industry, but also from other biomass sources. Historically, it has been primarily used as a low-value fuel source, burned for energy. However, researchers are now pioneering ways to chemically modify lignin to create materials with superior properties and higher economic value.
Lignin is the only biopolymer that contains aromatic molecules, making it unique. „It has a big future, Our research is focused on functionalizing lignin for a range of applications, including bioplastics, pharmaceuticals, and fuels, among other high-value products,“ says Karpichev.