RenCom to produce lignin-based biomaterial with equipment developed by Coperion
Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.
Swedish company RenCom
AB has chosen Coperion’s
state-of-the art twin screw extrusion system to enable the production of
RENOL®, an innovative thermoplastic biomaterial that can be used to replace
fossil-based plastics.
Press release: “Coperion supports RenCom in
production of durable biomaterial”, 21/7/2020.
Figure 1. From wood to biodegradable
thermoplastic biomaterial RENOL®
RenCom has a patented process that transforms
lignin into a renewable, degradable biomaterial that can replace fossil
plastics. Such material is marketed under the name RENOL®. Passing different
process steps, including extrusion and compounding (mixing of bio-compounds
that promote the chemical transformation on the lignin by polymerizing it),
RENOL® becomes a biomaterial that can be used for all kinds of plastic products.
It can be used directly in existing production infrastructure without any
modifications to machines or methods.
Following comprehensive studies in Coperion’s
extrusion test lab in Stuttgart (Germany), RenCom and Coperion were able to
further develop the processing of this lignin-based material. Coperion has designed
in cooperation with RenCom a complete extrusion system comprising a ZSK
co-rotating twin screw extruder, gravimetric feeders, a strand pelletizing
system, a lignin bag dump station and a big bag station to RenCom. The system
will be delivered in October and RenCom will be able to produce up to 1,000
tons of high quality RENOL® pellets. This is a fundamental milestone in the
progress to supply its innovative material to a broad audience and to enter the
market as early as beginning of 2021.