KraftLignin.com believes it’s important to recognize our leaders in the kraft lignin industry. It would be impossible to identify everyone who’s made a difference or significant contribution to the industry. But we must begin somewhere, which is the purpose for this page. We would love to receive your feedback and information on the leaders we may not be familiar with.
Dr. Jinghao Li
Dr. Li is a distinguished researcher and Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Paper Engineering at Western Michigan University. With a Ph.D. focused on biopolymer valorization, Dr. Li has built a strong reputation for his innovative work in lignin conversion and biorefinery technologies. Dr. Li’s work is underpinned by a vision to revolutionize the biomass economy through lignin based solutions/ Dr. Li is at the forefront of lignin valorization, combining molecular engineering, process innovation, and materials science to convert kraft lignin into high performance, commercially viable products.
Kraftlignin.com is aware of the impressive work performed by Dr. Li, particularly the development of rigid lignin carbon foam that he co-developed with Dr. Zhiyong Cai and Dr. Qiangu Yan (U.S. patent 11,142,458) granted in 2021.
Dr. Wilton “Dale” Mitchell
Dale is the owner of kraftlignin.com and Pine Chemical Services LLC, a “hands-on” manufacturing and consulting firm focused on lignin, turpentine, and tall oil processes and sales. Prior to PCS, Dale served as Director of Biomaterials Business Development and Sales at Domtar for over 10 years. Dale's area of expertise is product development and commercialization of lignin, and he has sold an estimated 150,000 dry short tons of lignin into numerous global markets. Dale has a unique professional profile that blends industry experience and a doctorate in Biblical Studies. This rare combination has defined his approach for advancing lignin and forging lasting partnerships across the bioeconomy.
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Dr. Christian Hubsch
As UPM’s “Head of Lignin Development” Christian has demonstrated his leadership working with BioPiva lignin and it’s use in numerous commercial applications. A major accomplishment was his successful negotiation with Domtar for the ongoing production of kraft lignin in Plymouth, North Carolina. Arguably, without Christians efforts and leadership, no kraft lignin plants would currently be operational in North America. Christian’s contributions to kraft lignin, and those who depend on kraft lignin for their livelihood, cannot be overstated.
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Dr. Bruno Marcoccia
Domtar’s BioChoice lignin story can’t be told without acknowledging the late Dr. Bruno Marcoccia. Bruno spearheaded Domtar’s first venture into lignin by engaging senior management, securing the funding, and working tirelessly with collaborators and government agencies to fund and construct Domtar’s Lignoboost plant in 2013. As this market develops we should never underestimate the leadership role he played. Before his passing, Dr. Marcoccia inspired thousands with his fight against Leukemia and his leadership with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
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Dr. Wolfgang Glasser
With the help of Wofgang Glasser, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech, Cyclewood Solutins LLC, a start-up based in Arkansas teamed up with BASF of Ludwigshafen, Germany. The partnership produced and tested prototype compostable bags made from a a combination of kraft lignin and a biodegradable polyester polymer called Exoflex. These XYLO bags met all of the usual requirements of mechanical strength and compostability. This teams success was based, in large part, on the research of Glasser and the many graduate students he mentored from 1972. Throughout the years, their research made the necessary chemical modifications to isolated lignin so that it was miscible with man-made polymers.
2013 Plymouth NC Start-up Team
When Domtar cranked up its Lignoboost plant in 2013, plans were to burn the lignin as a fuel. As fate would have it, purchase orders started coming in. Domtar did not have a bagging facility at the time, so this team jumped into action and fabricated a packaging plant. They certainly rose to the occasion and built a system in a few days that would eventually package over 20,000 tons/yr of kraft lignin. These men got the job done ! First Row ( L to R ) Robert Saunders, Vicente Ramirez, Kenny Esteban, Dale Mitchell. Second Row ( L to R ) Bayardo Caceres, Alfredo Bartolan, Cesar Hernandez, and Jose Caceres.