Lignin is a main component of woody biomass and is very suitable for energy generation. It has been produced since 2018 in the pilot biorefinery of Avantium in Delfzijl. There, non-edible plantbased raw materials are converted into industrial sugars and lignin, based on the patented Dawn Technology.
Zanna McFerson, Managing Director of Avantium Renewable Chemistries, said: “Plant-based lignin is a highly effective natural binder and can be an excellent replacement of fossil-based bitumen in asphalt. Our involvement in CHAPLIN XL allows us to demonstrate that our plant-based lignin works effectively at scale allowing for a significant reduction in the carbon footprint of road construction.”
Dawn Drive
The CHAPLIN XL project will test the lignin-based asphalt at large scale by paving four test roads in the Netherlands during 2020. These include a section of road at Groningen Seaports in the north of the Netherlands. ‘Dawn Drive’ as it is referred to by Avantium will be constructed by Roelofs Group and is made from lignin produced by Avantium’s Dawn pilot biorefinery in Chemical Park Delfzijl.
The CHAPLIN XL project members consist of academic and industrial organizations. In addition to Avantium, these are Utrecht University, Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, Asphalt Knowledge Center, H4A Infratechniek, Roelofs Groep and the Circular Biobased Delta Foundation.
Image: Andrew Ostry/Shutterstock
