The saw mill based biorefinery

Purpose and goal

By-products from saw mills are of good quality and therefore suitable raw material for further processing in chemical processes for fuels / biochemicals. The purpose of this pre-study was to find suitable processes and products to integrate with saw mills based on the available residual streams. An actor´s constellation for this new value chain was identified from raw material supplier to the end product producer. Wax esters from sugar were identified as interesting high value product with a nish market and bio-oil from hydrolysis lignin to be used for transportation fuels.

Expected results and effects

The pre-study resulted in that 3 companies jointly came up with an application to Vinnova within the BioInnovation program, entitled "The small-scale biorefinery based on residual streams from saw mills." In the project that sought funding, the conditions under which it could be technically, economically and environmentally sustainable to produce wax esters from residual streams available at saw mills should be studied. The application was not granted funds, but players in this new value chain have come to know each other and there are good opportunities for continued cooperation.

Planned approach and implementation

All the involved actors have contributed with knowledge within their part of the value chain. Actors who did not participate in the pre-study from the beginning but who were identified as interesting to contact to complete the value chain have been positive. A good understanding of each other´s parts of the value chain has been given so that everyone could get a common picture of what would be required to realize the "The sawmill-based biorefinery"