Specialty Chemicals
The best uses for lignin are those which take advantage of its complicated molecular structure and of the functional groups on its molecules that can take part in chemical reactions.  For example, lignin can be used as a direct ingredient in the manufacture of polyurethane resins and foams, can be used as a precursor for carbon fiber, can be blended into PVC, and can be a direct component of phenolic resins and epoxy adhesives.  In all of these applications, lignin is replacing a component previously made from petrochemicals, and is therefore decreasing the carbon footprint and increasing the sustainability of the final product.  Pure Power is working on many other potential high value applications based on modifying the natural lignin produced by Pure Power’s patented process.

Bioproducts and green chemicals are increasingly being demanded.  Just as crude oil can be converted into petrochemicals that are used as raw ingredients in making a wide range of products (e.g., plastics and resins), Pure Power’s technology also generates substitute raw ingredients that can be used for a wide variety of industrial and commercial purposes. The difference is that the Pure Power ingredients are produced from sustainable renewable materials. Our lignocellulosic conversion process produces not only bioethanol, but also natural lignin and xylose. Biomaterials, such as rigid polyurethane insulation foam which incorporates natural lignin, will be among the first products developed from this biomass to bioproducts process. The high quality sulphur-free lignin we derive can be used in the manufacture of diverse industrial products, such as plastics, resins and carbon fibre. Xylose is used to produce a food sweetener called xylitol, which has applications as a non-diabetic sugar substitute. The food industry is targeting products such as toothpaste and chewing gum as a vector for Xylose-based flavourings.

Pure Power Lignin
Pure Power Global has developed a technology which can produce three high-value products from hardwood chips: lignin, xylose and cellulose.  For cellulose and xylose, there are a wide range of potential uses which are familiar to most people.  For example, cellulose can be used to make paper or textile products, or converted into sugar to make biomaterials, or ethanol for fuel.  Xylose can be used directly as a food ingredient or processed to xylitol, a health-promoting sweetener, or used in other personal care and pharmaceutical applications.  However, many people are not familiar with lignin, or only have knowledge about the low-grade lignins which are available from older technologies.  Here we will describe the characteristics of Pure Power lignin, and explain why it can be used for a number of high-value applications for which the other lignins currently on the market are unsuitable.

What is lignin?
Lignin is an important component of wood and is sometimes referred to as the “glue” that binds other components in the wood together.  All plants make lignin by randomly assembling a mixture of three different building blocks into a complicated three-dimensional mesh or network; significant concentrations of lignin are found in trees and shrubs.  Lignin forms a protective layer around the wood at the molecular level to help prevent it from rotting.  Softwoods (coniferous or pine trees) mostly use one type of building block to make lignin, which is known as guaiacyl or “G” lignin.  G lignin forms a tightly-linked mesh which is relatively difficult to extract from the wood.  Hardwoods (deciduous trees, such as oak, hickory, willow and eucalypt) mostly use a second building block, which makes syringyl or “S” lignin, but also have some G lignin.  Grasses and palm trees mostly use a third building block which leads to p-hydroxyphenyl or “H” lignin, and have less lignin than either softwoods or hardwoods.  The Pure Power process is optimized for hardwood and palm feedstocks, because S and H lignin are easier to extract in an undamaged state.

What can be made using Pure Power lignin?
The best uses for lignin are those which take advantage of its complicated molecular structure and of the functional groups on its molecules that can take part in chemical reactions.  For example, lignin can be used as a direct ingredient in the manufacture of polyurethane resins and foams, can be used as a precursor for carbon fiber, can be blended into PVC, and can be a direct component of phenolic resins and epoxy adhesives.  In all of these applications, lignin is replacing a component previously made from petrochemicals, and is therefore decreasing the carbon footprint and increasing the sustainability of the final product.  Pure Power is working on many other potential high value applications based on modifying the natural lignin produced by Pure Power’s patented process.

Biofuels
Biofuels are fuels derived from various plant materials, most often used in automotive transport. Biofuels have been in development for nearly a century; when the diesel engine was first invented, it ran on peanut oil, and Ford’s Model T was designed to run on ethanol. Today’s multibillion-dollar global market biofuels market is both immense and growing. Pure Power brings together feedstock suppliers, advanced technologies, management expertise and capital, to move biofuel production to the next level to meet this growing market need.

Pure Power is developing biofuels using the most efficient source of non-food crops and biomass which offers high yield and low environmental and social impact.

Investments & Acquisitions
Pure Power is the cornerstone investor in Aquaflow, holding approximately 19% equity shareholding. Aquaflow is a leading developer of microalgae-based biofuel technologies. We also hold the exclusive license to deploy this technology across Asia.

Pure Power acquired BioJoule which has a unique technology to derive biofuels and bioproducts from plant biomass. We are rapidly scaling this technology to commercial application and broadening the range of usable biomass material. Deploying BioJoule’s technology forms the core of Pure Power’s current activities.

Emerging disruptive technologies
Extensive efforts and resources are concentrated on the commercialization of a number of emerging technologies that will change the future of the renewable energy industry. Pure Power is only looking at second and third generation biofuel technologies, as these are not based on food crops, unlike first generation technologies.