Title
Lignin by-products of soviet hydrolysis industry: resources characteristics and utilization as a fuel
Authors
MIKHAIL L. RABINOVICH

Received October 28, 2013
Published Volume 48 Issue 7-8 July-August
Keywords wood saccharification, biorefinery, lignin, combustion, second generation ethanol, composting, environmental effects

Abstract
The development of new biorefineries and large scale second generation biofuel production from lignocellulosic feedstock will result in the formation of millions of tons of lignin by-products annually. Although many applications are now being developed for the utilization of the produced lignin in the manufacturing of new materials, it is not yet clear whether they would be able to consume the increasing amounts of lignin without spoiling the environment. This review presents the production of lignin by the Soviet hydrolysis industry, which reached 1.5 million ton/yr in the 1980s. The characteristics of different types of hydrolysis lignin are considered and the lignin stocks accumulated in the dumps and landfills of the former Soviet Union are evaluated. The utilization of hydrolysis lignin as an industrial and household fuel, as well as the consequences of lignin accumulation for the environment are also analyzed.