Lignin – a key to cleaner water for the future
Publicerat 15 August, 2025
Clean water is one of today’s biggest challenges. Researchers at RISE are now exploring how lignin can be used to develop effective and sustainable materials for water purification.
Access to clean water is essential for human health, social and economic development, and the wellbeing of ecosystems. Industrialization, urbanization, and rapid population growth are making it increasingly difficult to keep lakes, rivers, and drinking water free from harmful substances such as heavy metals and PFAS.
At LignoCity we are working to develop fossil-free and circular solutions for the future. A promising approach is biobased porous materials that can serve as filters in water purification processes. These materials, such as lignin-based biochar and carbon fibers, can efficiently absorb harmful substances from wastewater.
In the project “Structure-property relationships in lignin-based carbonaceous material”, researchers are investigating how the microscopic shape and structure – known as morphology – of these materials affects their purification performance.
– We study how the shape and structure of lignin-based materials at the microscopic level affects their ability to clean water. Using advanced X-ray techniques and electron microscopy, we can see how metal salts attach to the material’s surface, and with computer models, we can understand which structures work best, says Shun Yu, researcher in the project.
By understanding the relationship between material structure and purification efficiency, researchers can identify the properties that are most important for capturing harmful substances effectively. In the long term, this could lead to the development of more efficient and sustainable filter materials, while using lignin in a smart and circular way.
LignoCity aims to highlight and support projects like this, exploring lignin’s potential to replace fossil-based materials and contribute to cleaner water and a more sustainable society. Together, we can drive the transition to fossil-free and circular solutions.