D2T - Dust to Textile

Purpose and goal

Saw dust is generated in large amounts as a byproduct of sawmill operations in both Sweden and many other parts of the world. This project proposes a new value chain, shifting saw dust away from energy generation and into high value textile fibers. The project aims to use Lixea’s Dendronic® technology to convert saw dust from Vänerbränsle into high-quality dissolving pulp, which is then converted into sustainable man-made cellulosic fibers by TreeToTextile.

Expected effects and result

Sawdust is currently an underutilized resource generated in large quantities. Lixea´s Dendronic® process offers new opportunities to use this cellulose source to produce pulp with sufficient purity and reactivity for use in textile fiber production. The project will help demonstrate an entirely new value chain. If successful, this value chain has great potential to be scaled up and commercialized in Sweden and other forest-rich countries.

Planned approach and implementation

The project involves: • Raw material preparation and analysis of saw dust from Vänerbränsle • Fractionation of saw dust into its components: cellulose, lignin, and hemicellulose derivatives in Lixea´s pilot plant in Bäckhammar • Analysis of cellulose, dissolution, spinning, and yarn preparation at TreeToTextile´s pilot plant in Mölndal • Evaluation of techno-economics, scalability, and risks with the help of Lixea, TreeToTextile, and Vänerbränsle