Page 25 - European Energy Innovation - spring 2020 publication

Spring 2020 European Energy Innovation 25

COMMUNICATION

BioCatPolymers

Sustainable and efficient bio-chemical catalytic cascade conversion of residual biomass to high
quality biopolymers

Within the context of sustainability (Germany), Sekab (Sweden) and high yield to mevalonolactone (MVL).
and the global efforts for CO2 Visolis (Netherlands). The project is After separation and purification
emission reduction, the investigation coordinated by CERTH, the Centre from the fermentation broth, MVL
of routes for biomass conversion for Research & Technology Hellas is converted, via highly efficient and
to fuels and chemicals has (Greece). selective thermochemical catalytic
received tremendous attention. The processes, to the monomers, which
production of bio-based building The main objective of BioCatPolymers are finally purified to polymer grade
blocks and the associated production is to demonstrate a cost-effective, quality. These monomers can be
of bio-polymers could make a big sustainable and efficient cascade further processed for the production
impact in improving the sustainability technological route for the conversion of synthetic rubber, polyurethanes
of the chemical and petro-chemical of low-value, low-quality residual and polyesters that can be used in
industry. It also offers a promising biomass to bio-polymers with equal a wide range of every day products,
opportunity to improve the overall or better performance than their such as car tires, synthetic shoe
economics and sustainability of the fossil-based counterparts. The project material, life jackets and foams for
bio-based industry. EU has declared targets specifically the efficient insulation.
the bio-based products sector to be and economic production of two
a priority area with high potential for monomers with very large markets, The project is currently entering
future growth, reindustrialization, and isoprene and 3 methyl pentanediol its third year. The first two years
addressing societal challenges. (3MPD). have been very successful and the
project partners have achieved to
BioCatPolymers is a 3-year European The novel approach proposed develop efficient strains, catalysts
project funded by the European in BioCatPolymers surpasses and processes for all steps in the
Union’s Horizon 2020 research the impediments of traditional BioCatPolymers value chain on
and innovation programme under solely bio-based approaches. The small scale. Currently, the scale-
grant agreement No 760802. BioCatPolymers process starts up activities are on-going to
The BioCatPolymers consortium from the optimized pretreatment of demonstrate the integrated process
comprises seven partners from lignocellulosic biomass, combined on a 0.5 ton biomass/day scale. The
five countries CERTH (Greece), BPF with efficient enzymatic hydrolysis to main highlights of the work that has
(Netherlands), PDC (Netherlands), sugars. Using innovative engineered been performed so far are shown in
Quantis (Switzerland), Covestro strains, sugars are fermented with the figure below. ●

BioCatPolymers process Thermochemical conversion
of MVL to 3MPD

Feedstock Pretreatment/ Fermentation to MVL Separation/
Enzymatic Hydrolysis Purification of MVL

Selection of five residual Large-scale pretreatment of Development of efficient 2nd Successive filtration and Yield over > 90 wt.% achieved over
lignocellulosic biomasses birch (production of 2.5 generation engineered strain ion-exchange for MVL Cu-based catalyst with
(Spruce, Birch, Wheat straw, tons), followed by Fermentation of cellulosic sugars purification to > 95 % satisfactory stability
Rice straw, Sugar Beet Pulp) with yield > 0.3 g MVL/g sugar
enzymatic hydrolysis on 100 Thermochemical conversion
lt scale of MVL to isoprene

Yield over > 72 % of maximum
achieved over inexpensive SiO2-

rich amorphous materials

www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu Contact information
Website: www.biocatpolymers.eu
Email: biocatpolymers@cperi.certh.gr