News

26-03-2026

Major milestone for the LignoValue Pilot Plant: successful continuous 72-hour run

The LignoValue Pilot Plant of Biorizon co-initiator VITO has confirmed its technological robustness with a successful continuous 72-hour run, during which nearly two tonnes of lignin-rich feed were processed. This long, stable and interruption-free operation marks an important step in further scaling up reductive catalytic processes for lignin valorisation towards industrial applications.

VITO’s pilot infrastructure for the processing and valorisation of lignin consists of the PILLAR II unit (dissolving/extracting lignin) and the LignoValue Pilot unit (reductive catalytic depolymerisation of lignin). Since the launch of this infrastructure platform in 2024, the pilot team has worked on transferring the continuously operated, lab-scale processes to pilot scale, with reproducible results in terms of product quality. This trajectory was completed with the achievement of an important milestone: a successful continuous run of 72 hours. Through continuous operation, 40 kg/h of lignin-based input was processed, with the potential to further scale this up in the future. 
 
The LignoValue Pilot Plant is the first and only pilot line in Europe that depolymerises lignin and converts it into bio-aromatics. The installation, and by extension the entire pilot infrastructure platform, forms the crucial link between laboratory research and large-scale industrial processes, helping companies to bring new bio-based solutions to the market faster and with reduced risk. Moreover, the pilot line consisting of the PILLAR II and LignoValue installations is designed and built with the necessary flexibility, allowing a wide range of process conditions to be tested. This enables the development and optimisation of bio-aromatics and refined fractions tailored to diverse market applications.

The value of lignin and bio-aromatics for companies 

Lignin, a side stream from industries such as pulp and paper, offers a promising alternative to fossil-based aromatics, which today account for around 40% of all chemicals. By focusing on bio-aromatics, companies can reduce their dependence on finite fossil resources while developing less toxic, high-performance materials. 
 
The bio-aromatics and lignin-based intermediates from the LignoValue Pilot Plant open up opportunities for coatings, resins and composites, for example as bio-based alternatives for epoxy resins in which components such as bisphenol A are gradually being phased out. In this way, the pilot plant supports the development of new value chains for circular, bio-based materials in sectors such as construction, chemistry and high‑performance materials. 

Further expansion of pilot infrastructure for lignin processing 

Within the recently approved EFRO project RECIPE (Post-processing of plant-based chemicals) VITO is currently working on a further expansion of the pilot infrastructure for lignin processing and valorisation. 
 
This expansion includes the realisation of a pilot-scale post-processing unit for the efficient removal of the solvent used in the process, at sufficiently high capacity.  

In addition, a multi-purpose reactor will be designed and built for the chemical modification and synthesis of lignin-based building blocks. By altering properties such as functionality, the building blocks can be better tuned to the requirements for further processing in applications such as polymers and additives. 
 
This new infrastructure adds essential steps to the process for lignin valorisation towards industrial applications and thus helps to de-risk the transition from lab scale to large-scale industrial processes. 

Want to know more about the possibilities the LignoValue Pilot Plant, PILLAR II and the new expansions of this pilot infrastructure have to offer for your company? Consult more information on this unique pilot infrastructure or get in touch with Kelly Servaes.