Presse-Information

EU project BioSPRINT: Biobased synthetic resins from hemicellulose

The hemicellulose fraction from side streams of the pulp and biofuel industry is the focus of the EU project BioSPRINT. The aim is to purify and process them more efficiently and convert them into sugars that can be used as the basis for new biobased synthetic resins and thus replace fossil polymers. The EU project started on 1st June 2020.

BioSPRINT focuses on four research and development areas. In the first step, the processes for the production and purification of hemicellulose streams will be intensified. This will be followed by catalytic conversion, purification of the intermediate products and, in the final stage, polymerisation. Innovative anti-solvent precipitation methods and membrane separation processes will be used in the development of the integrated purification strategy. In the field of catalysis, the focus will be on intensified and integrated catalysis processes for the dehydrogenation of C5 and C6 hemicellulose sugars to monomers and extractive reactions, as well as intensified polymerization processes for furan derivatives.

Ultimately, the project aims to reduce operating costs and the use of raw materials and energy over the next four years while at the same time increasing yields and operational reliability. To this end, the work will be accompanied by an integrated Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA). The waste streams will be provided by project partners such as Fraunhofer and UPM; in addition, a case study will be prepared on a waste stream from Clariant. A total of 12 partners are involved in the project, which is coordinated by DECHEMA and has a financial volume of 6.1 million euros:

- AEP Polymers SRL (Italy)

- Dynamic & Security Computations SL (Spain)

- EBOS Technologies Limited (Cyprus)

- DECHEMA Society for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (Germany)

- Fraunhofer Society for the Promotion of Applied Research (Germany)

- IFEU - Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg GmbH (Germany)

- IRIS Technology Solutions, Sociedad Limitada (Spain)

- Kemijski Institute (Slovenia)

- Maturus Optimi BV (Netherlands)

- Oulun Yliopisto (Finland)

- Prefere Resins Germany GMBH (Germany)

- University of Newcastle upon Tyne (United Kingdom)

- UPM-Kymmene Oyj (Finland)

• More at https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/887226

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