Biorefinery Scheme Research Articles

Techno-economic analysis of water precipitation for lignin value prior to pulping

Lignocellulosic biorefinery strategies are evolving to include recovering value from lignin as well as the sugar components. Dissolving the lignin in a solvent to separate it from the cellulose fraction is a popular strategy. Lignin solvation techniques must be paired with complementary lignin and solvent recovery strategies. Water precipitation to decrease the solvent concentration is a popular method of laboratory-scale lignin precipitation, but it requires solvent concentrations of 3–10%v/v. High lignin precipitation yields must be tempered by the economic challenges of recovering the dilute solvent in an industrial process. Herein we describe several solvent recovery strategies and their implementation for lignin value prior to pulping (LVPP) with water precipitation. We model the use of distillation, multi-effect evaporation, and reverse osmosis (RO) to concentrate and recover solvent. Two different solvents, low and high boiling, above and below water, (b.p. <80°C or >120°C), are concentrated from dilute to pretreatment solutions of 70%v/v and 90%v/v. We show that the annual costs of solvent recovery after water precipitation, given current industrial separation techniques, would be prohibitive for lignin commercialization due to a required lignin selling price of a few times its fuel value.

Potential of Acid-Activated Bentonite and SO3H-Functionalized MWCNTs for Biodiesel Production From Residual Olive Oil Under Biorefinery Scheme

Application of acid-activated bentonite and SO3H-functionlized multiwall carbon nanotubes (SO3H-MWCNTs) for lowering free fatty acids (FFAs) content of low-quality residual olive oil, prior to alkali-catalyzed transesterification was investigated. The used bentonite was first characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Inductively Coupled Plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and was subsequently activated by different concentrations of H2SO4 (3, 5, and 10 N). Specific surface area of the original bentonite was measured by Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) method at 45 m2/g and was best improved after 5 N-acid activation (95-98°C, 2 h) reaching 68 m2/g. MWCNTs was synthesized through methane decomposition (Co-Mo/MgO catalyst, 900°C) during the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. After two acid-purification (HCl, HNO3) and two deionized-water-neutralization steps, SO3H was grafted on MWCNTs (concentrated H2SO4, 110°C for 3 h) and again neutralized with deionized water and then dried. The synthesized SO3H-MWCNTs were analyzed using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The activated bentonite and SO3H-MWCNTs were utilized (5 wt.% and 3 wt.%, respectively) as solid catalysts in esterification reaction (62°C, 450 rpm; 15:1 and 12:1 methanol-to-oil molar ratio, 27 h and 8 h, respectively) to convert FFAs to their corresponding methyl esters. The results obtained revealed an FFA to methyl ester conversion of about 67% for the activated bentonite and 65% for the SO3H-MWCNTs. More specifically, the acid value of the residual olive oil was decreased significantly from 2.5 to 0.85 and 0.89 mg KOH/g using activated bentonite and SO3H-MWCNTs, respectively. The total FFAs in the residual olive oil after esterification was below 0.5%, which was appropriate for efficient alkaline-transesterification reaction. Both catalysts can effectively pretreat low quality oil feedstock for sustainable biodiesel production under a biorefinery scheme. Overall, the acid-activate bentonite was found more convenient, cost-effective, and environment-friendly than the SO3H-MWCNTs.

Aerobic oxidation of 5‑hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid over Co/Mn-lignin coordination complexes-derived catalysts

Deriving more valuable products from renewable lignocellulosic biomass is attractive but still remains major challenges, the insufficient lignin valorization is considered as one of the main obstacles. Here, we report a novel catalyst comprised of cobalt nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulated in graphitic carbon tailored with manganese and nitrogen heteroatoms (Co-Mn/N@C), fabricated by pyrolyzing a mixture of Co/Mn-lignin complex and dicyandiamide. The as-synthesized Co-Mn/N@C catalyst exhibits excellent activity and recyclability for oxidizing biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) into 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) in aqueous system using O2 as oxidant. The structure-performance relations of the catalyst are investigated, suggesting that Mn/N-doped carbon can activate the reactivity of Co NPs for HMF oxidation by tuning the electronic structure of embedded metal NPs. Additionally, isotopic labelling experiments reveal the role of water and O2 for FDCA production using Co-Mn/N@C as catalyst. This work not only demonstrates the integrated biorefinery strategy, but also provides a new approach for sustainable, low-cost heterogenous catalysts preparation.

Energy Efficiency of Biorefinery Schemes Using Sugarcane Bagasse as Raw Material

The use of biomass to obtain value-added products has been a good alternative for reducing their environmental impacts. For this purpose, different studies have been carried out focused on the use of agro-industrial waste. One of the most commonly used raw materials has been bagasse obtained from the processing of sugarcane in high quantities in countries like Brazil, India, China, Thailand, Pakistan, Mexico, Colombia, Indonesia, Philippines, and the United States. From 1 ton of sugarcane, 280 kg of bagasse can be obtained. Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) is a waste that is rich in polysaccharides, which makes it a promising raw material for obtaining products under biorefinery concept. The objective of this work was to analyze from the energetic point of view, different biorefinery schemes in which SCB is employed as a raw material. The design and simulation of the different biorefinery schemes is performed in Aspen Plus software. From this software, it was possible to obtain the different mass and energy balances, which are used in the technical and energetic analysis. Exergy is used as a comparison tool for the energy analysis. These analyses allowed for the selection of the best biorefinery configuration from SCB.

Catalytic peroxide fractionation processes for the green biorefinery of wood

A kinetic study and optimization of pine wood peroxide fractionation in the medium acetic acid–water over TiO2 catalyst were accomplished for the first time. Kinetic regularities and the product composition of green processes of catalytic peroxide fractionation of softwood (pine, abies, larch) and hardwood (aspen, birch) over 1 wt% TiO2 catalyst in the acetic acid–water medium were compared at the temperature range 70–100 °C. For all type of wood, the processes of peroxide delignification are described by the first order equations and their activation energies are varied at the range 76–94 kJ/mol. According to FTIR, XRD, SEM, NMR data, the cellulosic products of peroxide delignification have a structure similar to microcrystalline cellulose regardless of the nature of wood. Soluble products are presented by organic acid and monosaccharides. The scheme of green biorefinery of pine wood based on extractive-catalytic fractionation of wood biomass on microcrystalline cellulose, hemicelluloses, aromatic and aliphatic acids, monosaccharides, turpentine and rosin was developed. Green and non-toxic reagents and solid catalyst are used in the developed scheme of biorefinery.

Selective fractionation and enzymatic hydrolysis of Eucalyptus nitens wood

Eucalyptus nitens, a fast growing species with remarkable resistance to plagues and ability to grow in frosting zones, was employed as a raw material for chemical fractionation following a selected biorefinery scheme. E. nitens wood samples were assayed for composition, and subjected to consecutive stages of hydrothermal processing (to solubilize the hemicellulosic fraction), organosolv delignification (for obtaining sulfur-free, soluble lignin fragments and a cellulose-enriched solid phase) and swelling. The various fractions from the processing stages were assayed for yield and composition. Operating under selected conditions, the hydrothermal stage allowed the recovery of 80.7% of the initial xylan as soluble hydrolysis or hydrolysis–dehydration products. The solid leaving the swelling stage contained 88.3% cellulose, and accumulated 90.2% of the cellulose present in the native wood. Near total cellulose conversion into glucose was achieved when the swelled solid was employed as a substrate in enzymatic hydrolysis experiments performed under selected operational conditions.

Comparative study of hemicelluloses from Hybrid Pennisetum via a green and clean integrated process

In this study, a green and clean integrated process based on microwave-assisted hydrothermal pretreatment (MHTP) and subsequent alkali post-treatment was performed to isolate and characterize water- and alkali-soluble hemicelluloses (SHs and AHs) from Hybrid Pennisetum (HP) as well as to improve the enzymatic digestibility of HP. Meanwhile, part of hemicelluloses was degraded into the value-added xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) during the MHTP process, which would be applied to the food and pharmaceuticals industries. State-of-the-art analytical techniques (e.g., HPLC, HPAEC, GPC, and 2D-HSQC) were used to investigate the main component streams (SHs, AHs, XOS, and glucose). Results showed that the structural characteristic of SHs and AHs was mainly composed of β-(1→4)-linked xylans. Additionally, the enzymatic digestibility of the cellulose-rich substrate (A190(10)) was 92.8%, which was 3.4 times higher than that of raw material (27.4%). In short, the proposed integrated process was considered as a promising biorefinery strategy for both hemicellulose-based products and bioethanol.

Potential raw materials for biorefineries to ensure food security: The Cocoyam case

During the last decades, the use of biomass has increased considerably for the production of chemicals, biofuels, and direct bioenergy, among others. However, the use of first and second-generation biomass has been raising concerns about the possibilities of threatening food security and to compete for the use of productive land. Biomass is a versatile feedstock based on different compounds with the potential to obtain a considerable spectrum of products. However, it is still necessary to look for cheap raw materials that might have high availability and with the potential for obtaining added-value products without risking food security and decreasing the environmental impact. Cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) is a plant grown extensively in tropical regions and mainly used as a source of starch and animal feed. It consists of three parts: leaves, which have a high protein and fiber content; stem, composed of lignocellulose; and a corm, with a starch content similar to that of cassava and potatoes. Nigeria, China and Ghana produce around 1.3, 1.18 and 0.9 million tonnes/year, respectively. In Colombia, they are not technified crops, but it is used mainly as animal feed. Cocoyam use is generally limited to the leaves, discarding the other parts. Based on the potential use of these discarded parts, this work proposed a biorefinery using cocoyam as feedstock to obtain different products: a feed (animal consumption), a biofuel (ethanol), a bioproduct used as food preservative (lactic acid) and food for direct human consumption (starch). The assessment of the potential of the biorefinery included an experimental stage to obtain the products, a simulation stage of techno-economic and environmental assessment and an analysis of the scale to determine minimum processing scale of feedstock at which the biorefinery is economically feasible. The obtained results showed that exploiting the compositional diversity of an unused raw material, it is possible to efficiently produce chemicals, food, feed and biofuels under a biorefinery scheme. The obtained yields for the feed additive, ethanol, lactic acid and starch were 0.147, 0.062, 0.110 and 0.192 kg/kg of feedstock, respectively. Starch, lactic acid and the feed additive are the products that have a higher contribution to the incomes of the process. The minimum processing scale for economic feasibility of the biorefinery was 880 ton/day, which is in the order of commercial scale production plants. The proposed process integrally uses a raw material and does not threaten food security.

Second-Generation Bioethanol from Coconut Husk.

Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) is an important commercial crop in many tropical countries, but its industry generates large amounts of residue. One way to address this problem is to use this residue, coconut husk, to produce second-generation (2G) ethanol. The aim of this review is to describe the methods that have been used to produce bioethanol from coconut husk and to suggest ways to improve different steps of the process. The analysis performed in this review determined that alkaline pretreatment is the best choice for its delignification potential. It was also observed that although most reported studies use enzymes to perform hydrolysis, acid hydrolysis is a good alternative. Finally, ethanol production using different microorganisms and fermentation strategies is discussed and the possibility of obtaining other added-value products from coconut husk components by using a biorefinery scheme is addressed.

Chlorine Influence on Palladium Doped Nickel Catalysts in Levulinic Acid Hydrogenation with Formic Acid as Hydrogen Source

Levulinic acid (LA) is a platform molecule, and its valorization toward biofuel additives like γ-valerolactone or tetrahydrofuran is considered as an important step in planning future biorefinery schemes. In this study, various Ni based catalysts were studied for the LA hydrogenation with formic acid (FA) used as a hydrogen source. Two different ways of catalytic activity improvement are discussed (nickel loading vs addition of dopants). The influence of Ni doping by small amount of noble metals (Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh) showed that Ni–Pd is the most active catalyst. Its high catalytic performance is attributed to the synergic effect between two metals and interaction with chlorine. The effect of chlorine on catalytic performance and properties of the catalysts was evaluated by variety of surface and bulk-sensitive characterization methods. It was shown that addition of chlorine is one of the key factors required for high catalytic performance. Chlorine influences distribution of metals on the surface of the catal...

Optimization of Culture Conditions for Production of Cellulase by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a microorganism that exhibits a wide range of applications. In this study, a Box-Behnken design was used to determine the optimum parameters for maximizing the cellulase production by S. maltophilia isolated from soil. The factors that were evaluated were the pH (3 to 10), carbon source (0.5 wt.% to 1.5 wt.% carboxymethylcellulose), and nitrogen source (0.5 wt.% to 1.5 wt.% yeast extract). The results showed that a maximum cellulase activity of 0.082 U/mL was achieved at a pH of 6.3, a 0.72% carbon source concentration, and a 1.5% nitrogen source concentration. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was grown on sterilized wheat straw (WS) to evaluate the production of reducing sugars as a potential application in a biorefinery scheme. After 72 h of incubation at 30 °C, the final concentration of reducing sugars was 150 mg/L ± 2 mg/L and the corresponding yield was 10.16%. The hydrolyzed WS was mapped by synchrotron micro Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, where a significant reduction in the characteristic signals for hemicellulose and cellulose was observed.

Optimization of alkaline pretreatment for the co-production of biopolymer lignin and bioethanol from chestnut shells following a biorefinery approach

Among lignocellulosic materials, chestnut shells (CNS) are a rejected feedstock from agro-food industry with promising possibilities as a suitable raw material to be used in a biorefinery scheme. The aim of this work was to optimize the alkaline delignification of CNS for the co-production of lignin and bio-ethanol. Under the optimal conditions (7.2% NaOH, 80 °C and 30 min), 92.6% of delignification was achieved, and 60.5% of glucan was recovered. This delignified solid was subjected to a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation using Saccharomyces cerevisiae, reaching an ethanol production of 14.6 g/L (ethanol conversion of 97%). Furthermore, the lignin extracted from CNS was characterized for the first time in terms of the chemical composition (pyrolysis-GC/MS), molecular weight distribution (HPSEC), thermal stability (TGA), structural properties and functional groups (FTIR and NMR) and total phenolic content (Folin-Ciocalteu). A preliminary economic analysis demonstrated that the co-production of lignin is the key factor in the profitability of the CNS biorefinery, and that alkaline delignification could be a suitable revalorization strategy of this unexploited residue.

Systematic assessment of triticale‐based biorefinery strategies: sustainability assessment using multi‐criteria decision‐making (MCDM)

AbstractTriticale – a hybrid of rye and wheat – is a man‐made crop that has the potential to be a preferred feedstock for the biorefinery in Canada because of its ability to grow on marginal land, its high yields, and its non‐competition with food‐based crops. However, it is challenging to identify sustainable investment options among the many possible triticale‐based biorefinery pathways. Several product‐process combinations for the production of polylactic acid (PLA) were defined in this study, each involving different degrees of technology and market risk. The different biorefinery configurations had conflicting rankings considering different criteria, making a trade‐off analysis essential to assess the most sustainable biorefinery strategies. Economic, competitive, and environmental dimensions of the biorefinery alternatives were thus evaluated in a multi‐criteria decision‐making (MCDM) panel, so that the triticale‐based biorefinery strategies could be ranked using a sustainability perspective.In this study, a set of ten criteria determined as the most important through previously‐conducted MCDMs were presented to a decision‐making panel. They determined that for PLA production, maximizing electricity production through a straw‐dedicated CHP unit was the least sustainable investment option, due to poor economic and competitiveness performance associated with its capital‐intensiveness and its failure to include a value‐added product portfolio. Therefore, this investment option was screened out from the list of strategies to be further analyzed. On the other hand, options featuring higher technology risk including energy‐efficient separation processes (ultra‐filtration) and integrated fermentation processes (SSCF) attained significantly better sustainability scores due mainly to their low energy and raw materials consumption values. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd

Systematic assessment of triticale‐based biorefinery strategies: techno‐economic analysis to identify investment opportunities

AbstractIn recent years, interest has increased in biorefineries that use a variety of biomass residues and non‐food crops. Triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) is a human‐developed crop that has the potential to become a preferred industrial energy crop for the biorefinery because of its capacity to grow on marginal land, its higher yields compared to existing cereal crops such as wheat, and its non‐competition with food‐based crops. However, implementation of the triticale‐based biorefinery will require the identification of sustainable strategies and as its sustainability pillar, the identification of economically promising strategies. In this study, the economic performance of several triticale‐based product‐process scenarios, including the production of ethanol, polylactic acid (PLA), and thermoplastic starch polymer, has been assessed through the evaluation of six economic criteria. These conflicting criteria have been evaluated in a multi‐criteria decision‐making (MCDM) panel, demonstrated for PLA platform, which has made it possible (i) to rank the alternatives by their economic performance, and (ii) to identify a set of the most important criteria to be used in a sustainability study. The MCDM results show that the alternatives with the best performance on profitability‐oriented criteria do not necessarily achieve the highest overall economic score. This suggests the need to consider both business‐strategy‐oriented criteria and profitability‐oriented criteria in strategic decision‐making. The MCDM results show that the internal rate of return, the downside internal rate of return, and the resistance to supply market uncertainty with relative weights of 24.8%, 23.6%, and 18.1% respectively, are the most important of the criteria assessed. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd

Systematic assessment of triticale‐based biorefinery strategies: investment decisions for sustainable biorefinery business models

AbstractStrategic investments in biorefinery projects are increasingly being made, and involve non‐traditional decision making, especially considering the technology and market risks involved. From the investor's perspective, the decision‐making process leading to product/process combinations for implementation as a biorefinery to achieve a sustainable business model and good economic returns is not obvious. Typical metrics used for investment decision making have some limitations regarding the recognition of acceptable technology risks relative to economic returns. They often do not appropriately consider factors and analyses related to, for example, environmental impact and the longer term competitive position of new product portfolios. The methodology presented in this article is an approach to identifying a ‘practical’ set of multi‐disciplinary decision‐making criteria to enable the selection of the preferred product/process biorefinery implementation strategy. The case of investment options in the triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) biorefinery is used as an example. Through this risk‐based methodology, technology risks as well as economic, environmental, and competitive benefits associated with different business model options are identified. This methodology leads to the development of a series of multi‐criteria decision‐making (MCDM) panels to define a set of practical criteria suitable for a final MCDM for the identification of triticale‐based biorefinery alternatives leading to long‐term and sustainable business models. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd

Simulation Approach Through the Biorefinery Concept of the Antioxidants, Lignin and Ethanol Production using Olive Leaves as Raw Material

Olive leaves is derived from the olive oil production with limited practical applications. This raw material can be used to obtain added-value products through its processing applying the biorefinery concept. Therefore, The aim of this work is to evaluate from a techno-economic and environmental perspective the production of antioxidants, lignin and ethanol using olive leaves as raw material through the use of experimental data and process simulation. For this, a biorefinery scheme composed by an acid extraction stage, organosolv pretreatment and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process was simulated. This process was performed using experimental data obtained from the main conversion blocks of the proposed scheme assuming a linear scaling. Moreover, the separation and purification of the products were performed using conceptual process design tools. Then, the techno-economic assessment was carried out considering economic indicators of the Spain context for an operating facility with a 10 y life-time. Finally, the environmental evaluation was based in the specific solid, liquid and gaseous emissions calculation. The results showed that 100 g of feedstock can produce 38.24 g of antioxidant extract (phenolic compounds>10 %), 11.82 g of lignin and 3.65 mL of bioethanol. In addition, the techno-economic assessment showed that the proposed biorefinery is profitable when 30,000 t/y are processed with a total project cost of 49.1 M USD, an internal rate of return of 15.22 % and a payout period of 7.27 y. As conclusion, the application of the biorefinery concept to upgrade olive leaves in added-value products is feasible from a techno-economic point of view and the implementation of small scale biorefineries in Jaen (Andalusia, Spain).

Systematic assessment of triticale‐based biorefinery strategies: environmental evaluation using life cycle assessment

AbstractTriticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) is a non‐food energy crop with potential as a biorefinery feedstock. In addition to technical, economical, and commercial risks, it is of critical importance that environmental issues be considered in the decision‐making process regarding the development of the triticale‐based biorefinery. In this study, life cycle assessment (LCA) has been used for this purpose. To facilitate overall decision‐making including economic and other metrics, the number of environmental indicators should be minimized, and yet at the same time, these indicators should be representative, comprehensive, and easy to interpret. To identify such a set of environmental indicators from LCA results, a multi‐criteria decision‐making (MCDM) panel study was carried out and an external set of normalization factors used to assist in this decision‐making context. The influence of eight technology choices on the environmental impacts resulting from the production of ethanol, polylactic acid (PLA), and thermoplastic starch (TPS) blend was assessed. Moreover, the environmental benefits of improved triticale yield and its ability to grow on marginal land were assessed. Although the complete spectrum of environmental impact categories was evaluated, the MCDM panel selected four criteria to be brought forward to an overall decision‐making panel. The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions metric was judged as the most important, followed by non‐renewable resource depletion, cropland occupation, and human health. Moreover, it was shown that certain technology choices such as ultra‐filtration and cogeneration significantly influence the environmental impacts of the triticale biorefinery. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd

Systematic assessment of triticale‐based biorefinery strategies: market competitive analysis for business model development

AbstractTriticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) is a high‐productivity cereal crop that holds great promise as an industrial feedstock for agricultural biorefineries, as it can grow on marginal lands. Several product derivatives can be envisioned; however, they need to be systematically explored and assessed using a sustainability perspective, in order to define a business model that would lead to a long‐term competitive position. This study presents a competitive analysis of triticale‐based product‐process alternatives defined on ethanol, polylactic acid (PLA), and thermoplastic starch polymer blends (TPS/PLA) product platforms. As part of the analysis framework, we sought to identify a set of important market‐oriented criteria for multi‐criteria decision‐making (MCDM), prior to an overall sustainability assessment in which techno‐economic and environmental criteria are considered as well. From an initial set of necessary competitiveness criteria, three ‘most‐important’ competitiveness criteria for the sustainability assessment of the PLA platform were identified including competitive access to biomass, competitiveness on production costs, and the potential to manage market price volatility. Certain key factors have been highlighted for each platform as an outcome of the competitiveness assessment, such as the impact of value‐added co‐products on the competitive position of commodity‐based product portfolios, and the advantage of combining grain and straw process lines for specialty‐based product portfolios leading to improved competitive potential. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd

Optimization of the sugar hydrothermal extraction process from olive cake using neuro-fuzzy models

The optimization of the hydrothermal extraction step in the biorefinery scheme in order to obtain sugars and antioxidants from olive cake was carried out. This process using water and low temperatures for the olive cake has not been previously studied by other authors. Central Composite Design of experiments was carried out. Four variables and three levels for each variable were tested: temperature (50, 70 and 90 °C) time (60, 120, 180 min), average particle diameter (0.42, 0.96 and 1.5 mm) and solid/liquid ratio (0.15, 0.20, 0.25). The main aim was to understand the relationship between the process variables and the yield of extraction of glucose, xylose, polyphenols and oligomers. The variables which most influenced the process were particle diameter and solid/liquid ratio. The experimental values were adjusted to a classical polynomial model and to a neuro-fuzzy system. The neuro-fuzzy demonstrated to be much more accurate when predicting the experimental values.

Formation of Lignin Nanoparticles by Combining Organosolv Pretreatment of Birch Biomass and Homogenization Processes.

Valorization of lignocellulosic biomass into a biorefinery scheme requires the use of all biomass components; in this, the lignin fraction is often underutilized. Conversion of lignin to nanoparticles is an attractive solution. Here, we investigated the effect of different lignin isolation processes and a post-treatment homogenization step on particle formation. Lignin was isolated from birch chips by using two organosolv processes, traditional organosolv (OS) and hybrid organosolv-steam explosion (HOS-SE) at various ethanol contents. For post-treatment, lignin was homogenized at 500 bar using different ethanol:water ratios. Isolation of lignin with OS resulted in unshaped lignin particles, whereas after HOS-SE, lignin micro-particles were formed directly. Addition of an acidic catalyst during HOS-SE had a negative impact on the particle formation, and the optimal ethanol content was 50–60% v/v. Homogenization had a positive effect as it transformed initially unshaped lignin into spherical nanoparticles and reduced the size of the micro-particles isolated by HOS-SE. Ethanol content during homogenization affected the size of the particles, with the optimal results obtained at 75% v/v. We demonstrate that organosolv lignin can be used as an excellent starting material for nanoparticle preparation, with a simple method without the need for extensive chemical modification. It was also demonstrated that tuning of the operational parameters results in nanoparticles of smaller size and with better size homogeneity.