Grenoble INP – Pagora / LGP2

The Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Science and Graphic Arts is a joint research unit (UMR 5518 CNRS / Grenoble INP / Agefpi).

The LGP2’s research focuses on processes for the conversion and the valorisation of the vegetal biomass such as the biorefinery and the manufacturing of bio-based materials (paper and cardboard, composites, films, nonwovens) and on printing processes for surface functionalization. LGP2 develops research on green processes with an emphasis on material and energy saving and on sustainable chemistry for new functional materials. The research projects rely on the development or the adaptation of multi-scale characterization tools.

The BioChip group conducts research from wood to fiber, which involves controlling the chemistry of plants and methods of isolation and bleaching of cellulose fiber. In addition, it deals with aspects of biorefinery, bioproducts and bioenergy to meet the society expectations in terms of renewable energy and sustainable development. The studies concern the development of green processes involving oxygen reactants for the lignocellulosic fibers bleaching (for which this team is recognized as one of the experts in the world), extraction and hydrolysis of wood hemicelluloses for recovery, and cellulose purification processes for textile and chemical uses. Works are carried out on the valuation of lignin (energy and material science) and on the modeling of unit operations for pulp production.

More recently, studies on the biological conversion of plant biomass (enzyme treatment) began with the establishment of academic partnerships and the support of LabEx Tec 21. This group has a large fleet of homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactors and analytical tools (spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography, ion chromatography) to characterize the different components of the biomass.

The BioChip group has also developed significant expertise in the field of flotation to paper recycling (deinking): development of experimental instrumented benches, modeling of transport phenomena, intensification of the operation (reactive flotation to ozone). Finally, while the number of researches in the field of biological treatment of pulp mill effluents decreases, it turns to the study of membrane separation processes.