News
02-10-2020
Polymer design and synthesis for sustainable epoxy resins
In the SELectiveLI project, Biorizon co-initiator VITO works on polymer design and synthesis for epoxy resins. VITO uses lignosulfonate-derived phenolic compounds and aldehydes as alternatives to maximally replace their oil-derived precursors. This contributes to a petrol-independent, sustainable bio-based industry in Europe.
SELectiveLI: Conceptual Study of Electrochemical based novel process using Lignosulfonates to produce bio-based monomers & polymers
The SElectiveLi project will provide proof of concept on laboratory scale (at least TRL3) to demonstrate the potential for converting low cost lignosulfonate feedstocks (by-product from paper and pulp industry) into high value bio-sustainable chemicals through the following:
- Development and optimisation of the electrochemical process to convert bio-based feedstock (lignosulfonates) into target monomers, some of which can be converted into polymers for study in further downstream processes.
- Development and optimisation of downstream separation and purification processes to extract the target products and conversion of intermediate building block monomers (mixed phenolic derivatives) into higher value polymers.
- Modelling the process to (a) prepare process designs and scale up strategies for future industrial scale production and ensuring commercial viability (b) assessing energy requirements and proving the process is capable of benefitting from surplus energy and accommodating energy fluctuations.
- Conducting a full life-cycle analysis to establish that a future biorefinery process can reduce environmental footprint of a value chain.
Project partners
SELectiveLI represents a strong BBI consortium, including full members Sappi, Idener, associated members VITO, Leitat and Sintef in addition to industrial partners Chimar and LCEngineering and leading expert in the field of preparative electrochemistry, University of Mainz.
Project details
- Duration: 2019 - 2023
- Total budget: € 2 853 119
- This project has received funding from the Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 837276.
More information
For more information about the SELectiveLI project, please contact Biorizon’s Lignin to Bio-Aromatics Horizon Manager Karolien Vanbroekhoven at karolien.vanbroekhoven@vito.be or +32 (0)4 93 51 42 70.
See also:
Lignin Horizon
In Horizon III, Biorizon co-initiator VITO targets the development of technology for the isolation, depolymerization and fractionation of the lignin fraction of biomass into bio-aromatics. This program targets aromatics with new functionalities that lead to improved product properties. VITO is now scaling up a unique conversion technology to produce lignin-based building blocks for the fine chemical industry and innovative biorefineries.
Process
The technology used in Horizon III results in different lignins, ranging from monomeric to oligomeric mixtures. A variety of bio-aromatics can be obtained by matching the appropriate starting materials and depolymerization technology.
Current focus
VITO started the engineering and construction of a lignin depolymerization pilot plant (LignoValue), which will produce functionalized renewable bio-aromatics that can be used in different high added-value applications (polymers, adhesives, coatings, composites, etc.). This facility will deliver about 250 kg/day of functional renewable bio-aromatics and should be operational by mid-2021. These amounts of renewable bio-aromatics allow the industry to apply these samples within their pilot facility in order to conduct application testing on a large scale. There are promising applications for these novel, renewable bio-aromatics in the fine chemical and polymer industries.
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.
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.
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This project is made possible by a contribution from the European
Regional Development Fund (ERDF) within the framework of OP-Zuid.
