Table 2 Life cycle inventory data per kg of PEG-modified lignin produced at the commercial-scale plant

Raw material procurement

Wood powder production

Input

Fine grinding

2.94E+00

kg

By-product wood is turned into wood powder

Transportation (wood powder)

Input

Outward route

2.94E−01

tkm

Assumes procurement from within the same prefecture

Transportation

(wood powder)

Input

Return route

9.87E−02

km

PEG production

Input

1.95E−01

kg

Transportation (PEG)

Input

Outward only

2.57E−01

tkm

Assumes maximum domestic transport distance

H₂SO₄ production

Input

8.53E−02

kg

Transportation (H₂SO₄)

Input

Outward only

6.80E−02

tkm

H₂SO₄ (62% W.B)

Assumes maximum domestic transport distance

NaOH Production

Input

1.66E−01

kg

Transportation (NaOH)

Input

Outward only

1.71E−01

tkm

NaOH (48.5% W.B.)

Assumes maximum domestic transport distance

Production

Reaction

Input

Recycled chemical agents

4.79E+00

kg

PEG 73.4%, Other residues 26.6%

Input

Electricity

3.93E−01

kWh

Input

Natural gas

1.33E−01

m³

Input

Industrial water

5.06E+00

kg

Output

Mixed solution A

2.91E+01

kg

Output

Drainage

3.33E−04

m³

Solid–liquid separation

Input

Mixed solution A

2.91E+01

kg

Input

Electricity

8.47E−02

kWh

Output

Mixed solution B

2.59E+01

kg

Output

Pulp

3.17E+00

kg

Pulp 48.4%, Water 35.7%, PEG13.8%, etc

pH adjustment

Input

Mixed solution B

2.59E+01

kg

Input

H₂SO₄ (62% W.B)

2.08E−01

kg

Input

Industrial water

7.86E−01

kg

Input

Electricity

8.85E−02

kWh

Output

Mixed solution C

2.69E+01

kg

Washing and filtration

Input

Mixed solution C

2.69E+01

kg

Input

Electricity

4.37E−01

kWh

Input

H₂SO₄ (62% W.B)

2.88E−01

kg

Input

Industrial water

3.53E+01

kg

Output

PEG-modified lignin (61.5% W.B)

2.47E+00

kg

Output

Supernatant

2.39E+01

kg

To the reclamation process

Output

Drainage

3.60E−02

m³

Includes saccharides and PEG-modified lignin residue

Drying

Input

PEG-modified lignin (61.5% W.B)

2.47E+00

kg

PEG-modified lignin 36%, Saccharides 2.4%

Input

Electricity

1.23E−01

kWh

Output

PEG-modified lignin (5% W.B)

1.00E+00

kg

Reprocessing

Input

Supernatant

2.39E+01

kg

Input

NaOH (48.5% W.B)

3.27E−01

kg

Input

Electricity

4.94E−02

kWh

Output

Recycled chemical agents

4.79E+00

kg

PEG 73.4%, Other residues 26.6%

Output

By-product salt

1.75E+00

kg

Output

Drainage

1.84E−02

m³