LignoAdvances has been founded after more than 10 years of academic research and evolved from Green Process Research Center at Lakehead University. The team started its research on lignocellulosic materials in 2009, and the results are myriad publications in top rank journals, patents, book chapters, abstracts in refereed conference proceedings. All these were possible through grants from different funding agencies such as NSERC, CRIBE, NOHFC, OCE, CFI, and ORF. The contribution and collaboration with our industry partners, Resolute FP, and FPInnovations, have also significantly contributed to our success. During these years many Highly Qualified Personnel were trained with expertise in biomass characterization and conversion, as well as wastewater, solution, and suspension analysis. Hardworking and passion for research led to an extensive national and international collaborations, as well as numerous awards.

Canadian pulp and paper revival has been the most important concern of the research team. Therefore, the research has been focused on producing value-added products from under-utilized materials generated in pulp and paper operations to improve the economic aspects of these processes. Furthermore, the high demand for sugars from non-food lignocellulosic biomass such as wood and fossil fuels depletion were other initiatives to valorize pulp and paper by-products.

After years of study and research, we came to the conclusion that our climate change and environmental pollution challenges can be overcome by increasing the use of renewable and sustainable products. Our contribution to the development of sustainable products are our products with applications in packaging, textile, construction, mining, wastewater treatment, and many other industries. The team has developed and assessed the feasibility of several processes in collaboration with industry partners, e.g., AV Nackawic, Lake Utopia paper, Resolute Forest Products, and FPInnovations, in order to produce various value-added products from wasted pulping liquors. We have also been involved in research on the analysis and conversion of bio and synthetic polymers such as starch, chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, and many more over the last 10 years.

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