ANDRITZ to Supply World's Largest Lignin Production System to Södra in Sweden

Swedish forest industry group Södra has chosen international technology group ANDRITZ to deliver a comprehensive solution for kraft lignin production to its Mönsterås pulp mill. This represents Södra's foray into the lignin market, enhancing the value derived from wood used in pulp production. The new facility will be the world's largest commercial kraft lignin plant.

Kraft lignin, a by-product of pulp production, is currently used for energy generation in pulp mills. However, it can also replace fossil-based materials in the chemical industry and form the basis for new biofuels.

ANDRITZ will provide a system to recover lignin from the pulping process, making it a saleable product for Södra. The scope includes supporting systems to improve the mill's environmental performance and ensure seamless integration into current operations. The system will utilize the ANDRITZ LignaRecTM process, while an ANDRITZ SulfoLoopTM plant will close the sulfur loop, avoiding sulfate stream purges even after lignin recovery.

This project is part of ANDRITZ's CircleToZero initiative, which aims to maximize the use of side streams in pulp mills, striving for zero emissions and waste. Södra's lignin production plant is slated to commence operations in 2027, supported by the Swedish Energy Agency and The Industrial Leap via NextGenerationEU.