News
17-01-2022
Bright Coatings Project: Pre-commercial demonstration of bio-aromatic MPA in a 100% sustainable alkyd coating
Biorizon’s spin-off company Relement is coordinator of the recently started Bright Coatings project. Biorizon co-initiator TNO participates as well. Objective of the project is the realization of a pre-commercial demonstration for the production and application of the ‘missing-link’ in a 100% sustainable alkyd coating application: the biobased aromatic MPA, based on locally available starting materials.
Missing ingredient
The coating industry is in an urgent need to lower their CO2-footprint. At end of life a coating will be burned as waste, since recycling is very difficult. This results in CO2 emission, since today coatings are predominantly made from fossil resources. Therefore, making biobased coatings is key. However, one important ingredient is missing to make a 100% sustainable coating, which is a sustainable alternative for fossil based phthalic anhydride. It is this aromatic that makes the coating glossy, scratch resistant and UV-stable.
Within the Bright Coatings project, Biorizon’s spin-off Relement will scale-up production of this missing link, the bio-aromatic MPA, towards (sub)commercial scale (>100kg), which as of today has not been done before. Subsequently, bio-aromatic MPA will be formulated in a 100% sustainable alkyd coating by Worlée and Baril Coatings. In doing so, the bio-aromatic MPA will be the first biobased aromatic product that can replace fossil phthalic anhydride in alkyd coating and that can be produced on industrial scale.
To achieve a sizable impact with this project, the full production chain for these coatings will be researched, developed, evaluated and improved upon. Finally, application of the 100% sustainable alkyd coating will be demonstrated on an electric wheel loader vehicle.
The starting material for biobased aromatic MPA is 2-methylfuran (2MF) which can be produced from locally available residual hemicellulose. For this reason, established and upcoming European biorefineries Cosun, Lenzing and Vertoro joined this consortium to align their residual hemicellulose feedstock with integrated 2MF production. Biorizon’s co-initiator TNO, which has established know-how and facilities on hemicellulose valorization via platform molecule furfural, is responsible for the technology development which allows the aligned conversion of locally sourced hemicellulose, via furfural, to 2MF.
It is expected that the Bright Coatings project will have a positive impact on the economy as well as any industry that is reliant on the use of specialty aromatics. This industry and market have been waiting for a long time for sustainable aromatic solutions to become available. Through the establishment of the aforementioned local value-chain from biomass to coatings, this project contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals such as a 55 % net CO2 emission reduction as presented under the Fit for 55 package.
For more information on this project please visit the Bright Coatings project website, contact Biorizon’s Sugar Horizon Manager Paul Könst at paul.konst@tno.nl or +31 (0) 6 25 04 13 79 or Relement CCO Monique Wekking at monique.wekking@relement.eu or +31(0)6 468 473 58.
See also:
Sugar Horizon
In Horizon II, Biorizon co-initiator TNO uses expert knowledge on furan chemistry and Diels-Alder technology for the development of functionalized renewable bio-aromatics. Di-acids and tri-acids like phthalic acid and hemimellitic acid with novel functionalities can be used directly in a final application, have high economic value, and can be readily obtained from biomass without losing much of their intrinsic functionality. Local residual feedstock is used, which contributes to the efficient and responsible use of resources in industries where recycling is difficult or even impossible.
Process
Local residual feedstock, such as sludge, manure and agro-residue, which is rich in carbohydrates (C5-sugars), is converted into furfural. Furfural serves as intermediate for the route to renewable bio-aromatics. Via the versatile Diels-Alder technology platform, aromatics of choice can be obtained from furfural. By using various starting materials, a portfolio of >50 different renewable aromatics can be obtained for applications such as lubricants, polymers, adhesives, coatings and plastics.
Current focus
The focus of Horizon II has been twofold: technology is developed to convert residual biomass streams into furans, and the Diels-Alder chemistry platform is developed for various functional aromatics. At present, the production of three novel specialty circular aromatics, 3-methylphthalic anhydride (3MPA), hemi-mellitic acid (HMA) and 3-methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride (3MHHPA), is most advanced and available at the multikilogram scale. We gladly offer companies the opportunity to conduct application testing to evaluate the properties of these highly functionalized renewable aromatics. Promising applications for these novel renewable aromatics are in adhesives, polymers, coatings and lubricants, respectively.
More information
If you share our ambition and want to collaborate with our Shared Research Center, please join our community, visit the Biorizon headquarters at the Green Chemistry Campus in Bergen op Zoom (NL) or reach out to our business development managers.
Calls for Participation
Do you want to contribute to our mission to enable commercial production of bio-aromatics by 2025? Come and join us! Take a look at the Biorizon calls for participation, and reach out to our business development managers for more information.
Projects
Thanks to Biorizon’s high-quality facilities, specialized knowledge, years of experience and the successful involvement of the entire bio-aromatics value chain, we manage to produce bio-aromatics continuously (on a kg/h scale). We are currently validating our continuous processes and working with industry partners toward the next stage: demonstration. This makes Shared Research Center Biorizon the most advanced and valued research program in sustainable bio-aromatics worldwide. We offer the chemical industry an excellent platform to make the transition to a circular bio-economy.
Do you want to contribute to our mission to enable commercial production of bio-aromatics by 2025? Come and join us! Take a look at the Biorizon projects for inspiration, and reach out to our business development managers for more information.
Biorizon is powered by
This project is made possible by a contribution from the European
Regional Development Fund (ERDF) within the framework of OP-Zuid.
