Kraft lignin is produced in the Kraft pulping process, which uses alkaline chemicals, like sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide to seperate the lignin from the cellulose fibers of wood. Kraft lignin is hydophobic, it is not water soluble. Lignosulfonates are produced in the Sulfite pulping process, which uses sulfurous acid and sulfite salts to cook wood chips. Lignosulfonates are water soluble. Kraft lignin and Lignosulfonates - are not the same. It’s an apples and oranges thing.

In some kraft pulp mills, the recovery boiler is the primary bottleneck limiting pulp production. As mills increase throughput, the volume of black liquor — rich in lignin and dissolved organics — grows accordingly. Since the recovery boiler has a fixed capacity to process this liquor, it can quickly become overloaded, preventing further production increases.

Installing a lignin extraction plant upstream of the recovery boiler addresses this constraint by removing a portion of the lignin from the black liquor. This reduces the organic load entering the boiler, effectively freeing up capacity. As a result, more black liquor can be processed within the existing boiler limits, enabling a measurable increase in pulp production without major capital investment in boiler infrastructure.

There are links to the various lignin manufacturers’ throughout this website. The lignin experts at KraftLignin.com are the best single point of contact for kraft lignin in North America. If Kraftlignin.com doesn’t have it, we can direct you to someone who can provide what you’re looking for.

Be careful and do not believe everything you read in market reports about Kraft lignin. As experts in Kraft lignin markets, we have observed that many published reports contain outdated data, inaccurate assumptions, and misleading conclusions. We have seen reports that quite simply are wrong, incomplete, and misleading. While market reports can be useful, one should approach them critically and not accept every claim at face value. It’s important to evaluate the source, understand the methodology, and compare findings across multiple reports if available. Inaccurate data is “out there”, making due diligence essential.

Commercially and cost competitively - no. Work is being done on the issue because the odor is problematic for many applications. But as of today we have not identified a cost effective way to get rid of the odor.

Kraft lignin smells bad mainly due to volatile sulfur-containing compounds like hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan, formed during the kraft pulping process. These compounds are extremely pungent, even in small amounts.

Absolutely not. Lignin characteristics vary depending on the tree species, as well as site specific kraft pulping processes.

The lignin experts at kraftlignin.com are aware of kraft lignin being stored over two years without any change in properties.

Not necessarily. Drying affects the density of lignin. As you dry lignin, you move from shipping “bricks” to shipping “pillows”.

Global pulp and paper producers are taking diverging paths in sustainability. European companies are leading the way, achieving measurable emissions reductions and bringing low-carbon products to market. Their strategies integrate green initiatives into core operations, demonstrating that environmental performance can be a central component of business growth.

North American producers are advancing more gradually, balancing operational priorities with environmental goals. While progress is evident, the pace is incremental compared to Europe, reflecting a measured approach to integrating sustainability across the value chain.

In Asia and Latin America, producers remain critical to global supply chains, but the seriousness of green initiatives can be questioned. Challenges around land use, deforestation, and transparency indicate that environmental commitments are uneven, and sustainability is still being balanced against growth and operational pressures.

Overall, Europe sets the benchmark, while other regions continue to navigate the trade-offs between business priorities and meaningful environmental action.