ABOUT LIGWOOD, LLC
What We Do
Ligwood, LLC focuses on sustainable forest management by converting forest undergrowth and paper pulp into biochar through pyrolysis. This process will help reduce wildfire risks, improve soil health, water and soil remediation with removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pollutants, heavy metals along with other contaminants and contribute to carbon sequestration.
BioMass
Ligwood uses biomass, an organic material from trees and plants which can be used as a renewable energy source, that has been converted into Biochar for environmental projects focused on carbon sequestration. Ligwood focuses on high-quality biochar produced from forest undergrowth and paper pulp, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and environmental impact through water and soil remediation projects.
Target Goals:
- Water remediation projects with removal of PFAS pollutants, heavy metals and various contaminants.
- PFAS pollutants remediation from both contaminated soil and water.
- Environmental projects focused on carbon sequestration.
- Wildfire prevention and forest management.
Lignin
Ligwood LLC is working closely with the USDA Forest Products Laboratory for thermally upgrading kraft lignin to various forms of proprietary, high value carbonaceous materials such as graphene and carbon foams.
Lignin is a biowaste from pulping processes, more than 70 million tons of lignin are produced yearly worldwide. Ligwood LLC has established an ongoing collaborative R&D program with the US Forest Products Laboratory for production of carbon foams, a high value carbon material, by recycling lignin into Biochar to create carbon foams.
The goals of this collaboration are:
- To develop a commercial manufacturing mode and demonstrate the existing carbon foam production process is scalable for high-volume production of valuable carbonaceous materials from lignin.
- ·To identify potential large volume applications of lignin-derived carbon foams.
The specific objectives for this research include:
- Develop a commercial manufacturing mode for production of carbon foam materials from lignin.
- Demonstrate that the developed the manufacturing process is scalable.
- Optimize the scale-up manufacturing processes.
- Analysis and characterization of both lignin resources and final carbonaceous materials.
- Test physical and chemical properties of the carbon foam products.
- Investigate the potential large volume applications of lignin-based carbon foams.
Sustainability & Social Impact
Environmental Impact
- Waste Reduction: Pyrolysis can help manage organic waste, such as agricultural residues, forestry undergrowth and urban green waste, by converting it into biochar, which is a valuable product.
- Reduction of Contaminants: Biochar can adsorb heavy metals, PFAS pollutants, organic pollutants, and excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus from water. This reduces the contamination of natural water bodies and prevents the harmful effects these pollutants can have on ecosystems.
- Carbon Sequestration: Biochar production locks carbon in a stable form for hundreds to thousands of years, thus acting as a carbon sink. When used in water and soil remediation, it continues to sequester carbon, contributing to climate change mitigation.
- Enhanced Soil and Agricultural Benefits: Biochar used in water and soil remediation can be repurposed as a soil amendment after its water filtration capacity diminishes. It improves soil fertility, water retention, and microbial activity, which can reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and improve agricultural sustainability.
Renewable Energy Production
- Byproducts: The Pyrolysis Process produces syngas and bio-oil as byproducts, which can be used as renewable energy sources, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
- Resource Efficiency: Using forest undergrowth or other biomass waste to produce biochar for water and soil remediation maximizes resource use by turning potential waste into a valuable product. This contributes to a circular economy and reduces the environmental footprint of waste disposal.
PARTNERS
USDA
WERC Wood Forest Markets Projects
US Forest Service
US Forest Service
WERC Wood Forest Markets Projects
US Forest Service
Sovereign Resources - Madison
WERC Wood Forest Markets Projects
WERC Wood Forest Markets Projects