Lignin Expert

What does a lignin expert or lignin consultant do? Lignin is a constituent of the cell walls of almost all dry land plant cells. It is the world’s second most abundant natural polymer, surpassed only by cellulose.  Unlike cellulose, lignins are not composed of sugars but are aromatic in nature.   A lignin expert is one familiar with the methods for finding valuable uses for lignin.  Lignin uses include chemical, enzymatic and thermal conversion to smaller, and more valuable molecules.  These uses normally end in platform chemicals for things like aromatics, phenols, and cresols.

Lignin experts should have a solid chemical education and experience with various pretreatment techniques for the processing of the lignocellulose materials and in separating the products.  They will have a knowledge of both the processes and technologies available, and the application of these different technologies.  The lignin consultant should also have a working knowledge of the short-term installation costs, and longer term operations and maintenance costs. They should be able to provide due diligence reviews of technologies, assist in the selection of various technologies and equipment, and the ability to provide basic design services and expertise.  Additionally, they should be able to oversee fabrication and testing of systems, provide on-site expertise during installation and to assist in commissioning of the systems.

Large renewable energy and biochemical consulting firms like Lee Enterprises Consulting normally offer a wide range of services in biofuels, biochemicals, biotechnologies, biomaterials, synthetic biology commercialization, feedstocks, and hemp/cannabis.  These companies should have business and financial services like due diligence, feedstock availability, grants and loans and bio market research.  The company also offers technical and engineering related services like techno economic analysis, environmental evaluations, feasibility studies, risk analysis and expert witness engagements.   They might also have strategic partnerships in place to assist clients with insurance, legal, accounting, plant fabrication, feedstock procurement.  

With over 150 experts worldwide, Lee Enterprises Consulting has experts in many specific clean and renewable areas, including

activated carbon, advanced biofuels, agricultural waste, bio based chemicals, bio jet fuel, bio market assessment, biocatalysis, biomarket assessment, biomass technologies, bioplastics, biopolymers, carbonization, co2, cogeneration, combined heat power, effluent wastewater treatment, elastomers, emerging renewable technologies, energy markets, fermentation, Fischer Tropsch, food waste, forestry biomass, fuel cells, gas fermentation, gas to liquids, gasification, green diesel, industrial enzymes, jet fuels, low carbon fuels, marine biofuels, medical waste, methane, municipal solid waste, nutraceuticals, organic synthesis, plastics, pulp and paper, renewable biomass, renewable diesel, renewable hydrogen, renewable process design, renewable technologies, sewage treatment, solid recovered fuels, solid state fermentation, surfactants, syngas, synthetic biology, synthetic diesel, thermal conversion, waste to energy, and woody biomass. This is a multidisciplinary group of green energy consultants that is a virtual “one stop shop” for any client need and handles projects of all types and sizes.

Look at our experts and the services we provide.  Most of our experts are also available to advise and serve as expert witnesses in bioeconomy litigation matters.  For the larger projects, we specialize in putting together full service, interdisciplinary teams with one point of contact.  See video about LEC here.  Call us at 1+ (501) 833-8511 or email us for more information.