MARCH 2015 | VOL. 14 NO. 3 | TAPPI JOURNAL 209 T he Flippr° (Future Lignin and Pulp Processing Research) cooperative research project on biorefinery issues is funded by three universities (BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna; University of Graz; and Graz University of Technology) and four pulp and paper mills in Austria. The project will run for 4 years, until April 2017, and has a total budget of EUR6 million. The focus is on establishing know-how about structural chemistry of cellulose fibers and lignin for more efficient use of these two major raw materials streams. The indus- trial partners acknowledge that fundamental research is a prerequisite to advanced applications and use of cellulose and lignin. Several subprojects include product innova- tions for use of lignin, fibers, and fines inside and outside the pulp and paper sector. Ecological and economical perspectives are addressed, in addition to technical devel- opments. About 65 staff members are actively involved in Flippr°, including 12 doctoral students; women comprise about 30% of staff. LIGNIN RESEARCH Comprehensive lignin analysis has been established at the BOKU University, Vienna, Division of Chemistry of Renewable Resources laboratory. This analysis is aimed at integrating lig- nin into sustainable, non-energetic applications, thus helping the chemical industries to progressively substitute fossil-based raw materials. A comprehensive knowledge of lignin struc- ture and chemical properties is an absolute prerequisite to any reasonable use, which renders the availability of the analytical methods so important [1-3]. Lignin is one of the major natural polymers. It is an often forgotten fact that lignin is produced in amounts almost simi- lar to those of cellulose upon pulping of wood; it is the major byproduct of the pulp and paper industry. Because of lignin’s heterogeneous structure and lack of bulk applications, it has mainly undergone energetic utilization (i.e., it has been burned). Nevertheless, lignin consists of valuable structural units, such as phenols and other aromatics, for which there is generally wide potential for use in the chemical industry [4,5]. Potential applications range from adhesives, binders, and res- ins over paint components to organic soil conditioners and artificial humic substances — all markets that offer the pos- sibility of using lignin in bulk amounts. However, before lignin is to be used in sustainable — and thus mostly non-energetic — ways, it is imperative to know its structure. The structure of lignin is much more highly so- phisticated than the structure of cellulose. While cellulose structure is constant across plant species, having one binding type between the basic building blocks, lignin structure var- ies across plant species. It is moreover irregular, comprising several binding modes among the three possible araliphatic phenylpropane–type monomeric units. The structural diver- sity and variability of natural lignin is further complicated by pulping steps and by differences in pulping processes. To pro- vide consistent quality to customers in the chemical industry, chemical parameters need to be defined that characterize Flippr° — an industrial research project in Austria MELANIE MAYR, RENE ECKHART, IVAN SUMERSKIY, ANTJE POTTHAST, THOMAS ROSENAU, JOSEF-PETER SCHÖGGL, ALFRED POSCH, AND THOMAS TIMMEL BIOREFINERY RESEARCH PEER-REVIEWED ABSTRACT: Flippr° (Future Lignin and Pulp Processing Research) is a cooperative research project on biorefinery issues, funded by three universities and four pulp and paper mills in Austria. Efforts focus on establishing know-how about structural chemistry of cellulose fibers and lignin for more efficient use of these two major raw materials streams. Several subprojects are related to product innovations for use of lignin, fibers, and fines inside and outside the pulp and paper sector. Research toward added-value use is based on existing industrial production processes to achieve rapid realization. In addition to technical developments, ecological and economical perspectives are addressed by respective subprojects. Preliminary results, such as the establishment of quicker fundamental lignin analysis, are the basis for further investigation on lignin use by the industry partners. The method for high throughput analysis is nearly finalized; it will allow screening of industrial lignin sources in a reasonable time. Research on fibers and fines shows that a differentiated view on technological properties opens up a wide variety of process improvements for papermaking. Application: Research will help companies develop value-added uses of lignin and cellulose using current pro- duction processes.