News

11-01-2022

VIABLE project: manufacturing bio-based epoxy resins by partially replacing BPA with lignin biomass

Biorizon co-initiator VITO coordinates the new LIFE VIABLE project that stands for ‘Valorization of lignin bIomass into competitive components grAdually replacing BPA in the formuLation of Epoxy resins’. The project aims to improve the sustainability and the environmental impact of epoxy resins manufacture by lowering the BPA content in the formulation of epoxy resins by 20 to 50%. 

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a commodity chemical produced world-wide in a large volume every year. It is used in the production of epoxy resins and polycarbonates. However, its endocrine disrupting properties and its fossil-based composition raise concerns about its environmental impact and health toxicity as well as its sustainability. The VIABLE project therefore aims to improve the sustainability and the environmental impact of epoxy resins manufacture by lowering the BPA content in the formulation of epoxy resins by 20 to 50%. 

The kick off meeting of the project took place on November 29th, 2021 in an online format with the 7 consortium partners, each highly specialized and recognized in its field:

1. VITO, as a co-initiator of Biorizon Shared Research Center (Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek, BE) (Coordinator of the project)
2. CIMV (Compagnie Industrielle de la Matière Végétale, FR)
3. SOLVAY (UK)
4. HP Composites (IT)
5. CRF (Centro Ricerche Fiat, IT)
6. APESA (FR)
7. POLYMERIS (FR)

The project will scale up a breakthrough solution by gathering all stakeholders of the value chain to develop lignin-based epoxy resins at a pre-industrial scale. The solution developed by the consortium will constitute a unique reference of bio-based material.

CIMV will provide its expertise in lignin reactivity and will produce organosolv lignin. Through their LIGNOVALUE pilot plant, VITO, as a co-initiator of Biorizon Shared Research Center, will ensure the depolymerisation of lignin, the fractionation and the supply of bio-based alternatives for BPA to SOLVAY who will produce the lignin-based epoxy resins. HP composites will integrate the new epoxy resins in composites for both aesthetic and structural car parts. CRF will demonstrate the feasibility of these car components. In parallel, APESA will be in charge of monitoring the different impacts of the project. Dissemination and valorization of the results will be performed by Polymeris.

The LIFE VIABLE project is planned to be ongoing for four years. The project has an overall budget of €3 371 078, and receives a €1 854 090 contribution of the LIFE Programme of the European Union (LIFE20-ENV-BE-000671).

Contact

For more information on this project, please contact VITO's Heleen De Wever: at heleen.dewever@vito.be.

The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of LIFE VIABLE partners and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.