Imagine lignin as a tough, natural glue that holds plants together, but it's usually too messy to use for anything useful. This project has found a way to break that glue down into clean, useful building blocks using a continuous chemical process. It's like turning a pile of scrap wood into high-quality Lego bricks that can be used to make plastics and glues.
Only 1-2% of annual lignin production is used for chemicals because its complex nature makes it hard to process. This forces industries to rely on expensive, fossil-based aromatic compounds.
A continuous catalytic hydrogenolysis pilot plant (TRL 6-7) and a dissolution unit to convert isolated lignins into platform chemicals.
If you are a manufacturer dealing with high fossil-fuel dependence for aromatic compounds — this project developed a continuous catalytic process that provides bio-based platform chemicals. This allows you to substitute fossil-based compounds with sustainable alternatives.
If you are a producer dealing with strict sustainability regulations — this project developed a way to use isolated lignins as starting materials. This enables the production of bio-based adhesives that reduce the overall carbon footprint of your product line.
If you are a supplier dealing with the high cost of specialty aromatic building blocks — this project developed a cost-effective production method at an industrially relevant scale. This helps you increase margins by using abundant natural resources instead of expensive petroleum derivatives.
Revenue streams will result from licensing agreements and an increase in turnover and margin for the suppliers and application partners.
Yes, the project is demonstrating a catalytic hydrogenolysis process operated in continuous mode at an industrially relevant scale using pilot units at TRL 6-7.
Based on available project data, the business model anticipates revenue through licensing agreements for the developed technology.
The project anticipates a positive Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) over 15 years of operation.
The project aims for a reduction in GHG emissions of over 50% through pilot infrastructure improvements, with 85% using a fully renewable supply.
The consortium is heavily weighted toward commercialization, with an industry ratio of 62% comprising 8 industrial partners, including 4 SMEs. This structure, combining 1 university and 3 research centers across 10 countries, ensures that the technology is developed with direct input from the end-users who will eventually license the process or purchase the bio-based chemicals.
Contact VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK N.V. (VITO) in Belgium
Contact us to explore licensing opportunities for lignin-based platform chemicals.
