RE: Lignol Competitor?Did a little more digging on LignoMaxx. Is it a competitor to HP-L Lignin?
Yes and No.
It competes in the market as a phenol substitute in the production of plastic, but it is not the same with regards to the production of LignoMaxx itself.
LignoMaxx is the by-product of the production of ethanol, and at present from the production of corn-based ethanol which is a foodstock and something the industry is trying to move away from. LignoMaxx is produced from DDG (Dried Distillers Grain) which is a by-product of corn-based ethanol production.
LignoTech the patent holder of LignoMaxx proclaims they can use non-foodstock based by-products to produce LignoMaxx, but are concentrating on DDG's due to their excellent results, so it seems they haven't perfected LignoMaxx using woodchips and other non-food based materials, IMO.
HP-L Lignin on the other hand, is derived directly from non-foodstock cellulosic material, and Lignol has developed a patented process to extract the HP-L Lignin directly from this material with ethanol production as a by-product of this patented process.
At a time when the industry is looking to produce ethanol from non-food based feedstock, and with LEC's patented process to extract HP-L Lignin that can be substituted for Phenol at least initially in the OSB adhesive market, and I would also think in the production of plastics as well sometime in the future, LEC IMO is ahead. atb
https://www.kaapacoop.com/resources/FREQUENTLY+ASKED+QUESTIONS.pdf
Dried Distillers Grains can vary a lot such as in oil content. Does this make any difference? At this time, the plant will be purchasing DDGs that are similar in content so as for more consistent processing, and therefore, a more consistent properties of the end product. However, future testing is anticipate because some types of plastics may actually prefer that our resin enhancer contain more oil, or in some cases, less oil. Thus, we could customize our end product based on the demand of the plastics compounder or molder.
7. If this process was perfected and patented in New Zealand, what are they making with their product? It is correct that a New Zealand firm, LignoTech, holds the patent on the process and has a pilot plant operating in New Zealand. Their work to date, however, has been primary with wood chips as that is the most consistent and abundant biomass available in New Zealand. With the excellent results achieved with the DDGs, LignoTech is assisting with further development of the utilization of this biomass versus wood chips and, thus, is not selling product at this time.