Posts by Biobased Maine

Rayonier Advanced Materials  recently announced a joint venture with Borregaard ASA to manufacture natural lignin-based products at its Florida facility. Lignin, a natural component of wood, is typically used for its energy properties (i.e., it’s burned as fuel). This joint venture would instead convert lignin into higher-value products that are more environmentally-friendly than products typically made from…

Globally, the market for biobased chemicals is growing in leaps and bounds.  According to a recent report published by the National Research Council, the U.S. is on track to experience an upsurge in biobased chemicals even larger than anticipated. According to the Council’s report, “Industrialization of Biology: A Roadmap to Accelerate the Advanced Manufacturing of…

Cascades, a multinational paper making company, just announced that it’s investing $26M in an innovative, biorefinery technology at its Norampac-Cabano facility – the extraction of hemicellulose from wood chips. Hemicellulose, a natural polymer found in plant cell walls, is also called “cellulosic sugar.” It can be sold as a commodity or converted to advanced biofuels (ethanol) or…

Nanocellulose (also called cellulose nano fibers or CNF) are tiny structural building blocks derived from biomass (like trees and plants). They have great potential for conversion to lightweight, high-strength, advanced materials. Research in and commercialization of nanocellulose  is growing quickly in the U.S. and globally, with the nation’s first commercial nanocellulose plant opening this year…