IMPRESS · Project

Cheaper Bio-Based Chemicals from Plant Sugars with 25% Lower Operating Costs

manufacturingPilotedTRL 7

spire2030.eu

Imagine turning wood and plant waste into the same chemicals we currently make from oil — things like antifreeze ingredients, sweeteners, and even activated carbon. The tricky part has always been separating and purifying these chemicals cheaply enough to compete with petroleum-based versions. IMPRESS built and tested a new integrated refinery process that chains together smarter separation steps, cutting production costs by up to a quarter. Think of it like upgrading from a clunky old assembly line to a streamlined modern one, but for turning biomass into everyday industrial chemicals.

By the numbers

25%

Expected reduction in operating expenses (OPEX)

20%

Expected reduction in capital expenditure (CAPEX)

20%+

Expected reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

Consortium partners

Countries represented

71%

Industry ratio in consortium

SMEs in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Chemical manufacturers face mounting pressure to switch from petroleum-based to bio-based feedstocks, but bio-based production routes for chemicals like MEG, MPG, and sugar alcohols have been too expensive due to complex and costly separation and purification steps. The capital and operating costs of bio-based alternatives have made them uncompetitive against fossil-derived products, even as regulatory and market demands for sustainability intensify.

The solution

What was built

The project built and tested dedicated high-throughput separation and purification equipment for a hybrid biorefinery. It developed an integrated Conceptual Process Design combining multiple unit operations to produce xylitol, erythritol, bio-based ultra pure MEG and MPG, and lignin-derived activated carbon from biomass feedstock.

Audience

Who needs this

Chemical companies producing MEG or MPG from fossil feedstocks looking to switch to bio-based productionSweetener manufacturers seeking cheaper production routes for xylitol and erythritolActivated carbon producers looking for sustainable lignin-based raw materialsBiorefinery operators wanting to add higher-value product streams to existing plantsPackaging and plastics companies needing bio-based PET precursors (MEG)

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Chemicals & Petrochemicals

enterprise

Target: Chemical manufacturers producing monoethylene glycol (MEG) or monopropylene glycol (MPG) from fossil feedstocks

If you are a chemical company producing MEG or MPG from petroleum and facing pressure to decarbonize — this project developed an integrated biorefinery process that produces bio-based ultra pure MEG and MPG with expected OPEX reduction of 25% and CAPEX reduction of 20% compared to conventional bio-based routes. The process also cuts greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20%.

Food & Sweetener Manufacturing

mid-size

Target: Sweetener producers or food ingredient companies looking for bio-based xylitol and erythritol production

If you are a sweetener manufacturer dealing with high production costs for sugar alcohols like xylitol and erythritol — this project demonstrated new purification and separation methods that can produce these high-value products from biomass more efficiently. The integrated process design targets a 25% reduction in operating expenses, making bio-based sweetener production more competitive.

Advanced Materials & Carbon Products

any

Target: Activated carbon producers or companies needing sustainable filtration and adsorption materials

If you are an activated carbon supplier struggling with rising raw material costs or sustainability demands — this project developed a process to produce lignin-derived activated carbon as a co-product of a biorefinery. By integrating this into a multi-product process with an expected 20% lower capital expenditure, it offers a new sustainable source of activated carbon alongside other valuable bio-chemicals.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this cost to implement compared to existing bio-based chemical production?

The project's Conceptual Process Design targets a 25% reduction in operating expenses (OPEX) and a 20% reduction in capital expenditure (CAPEX) compared to non-integrated bio-based production routes. Exact absolute costs would depend on plant scale and would need to be discussed with the consortium partners.

Can this work at industrial scale or is it still lab-level?

IMPRESS was funded as an Innovation Action (IA), which typically targets demonstration at near-industrial scale. The project built and tested dedicated high-throughput equipment, and the objective explicitly focuses on upscaling separation and purification methods. This suggests the technology has moved beyond lab scale toward pilot demonstration.

Who owns the intellectual property and how can I license it?

The consortium of 14 partners across 6 countries jointly developed the technology, with Avantium Chemicals BV (Netherlands) as coordinator. IP ownership typically follows the EU grant agreement, where each partner owns the results they generate. Licensing discussions would need to go through the relevant consortium partners.

What products can this biorefinery actually produce?

The integrated process produces multiple high-value products: xylitol, erythritol (both sugar alcohols used as sweeteners), bio-based ultra pure monoethylene glycol (MEG), monopropylene glycol (MPG), and lignin-derived activated carbon. The multi-product approach is key to the economic case.

What is the environmental benefit for companies under emissions pressure?

The project targets a greenhouse gas emissions reduction of more than 20% compared to conventional processes. A full Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was performed to validate the environmental performance. This could support companies meeting corporate sustainability targets or regulatory requirements.

How mature is this technology — when could it be deployed?

The project ran from September 2019 to February 2024 and is now closed. High-throughput equipment was built and tested. Based on the Innovation Action funding type and demonstration objectives, the core processes are likely at TRL 6-7, meaning they have been validated in a relevant environment but would need further engineering for full commercial deployment.

Consortium

Who built it

The IMPRESS consortium is heavily industry-driven with 10 out of 14 partners (71%) from industry and 7 SMEs, which is a strong signal that this technology was developed with commercial deployment in mind. Led by Avantium Chemicals BV, a well-known Dutch biotech SME specializing in renewable chemistry, the consortium spans 6 countries (AT, CH, DE, FI, FR, NL) covering key European chemical and forestry markets. The presence of only 2 universities and 1 research organization means the majority of the work was done by companies that need this technology to work in practice, not just in publications.

AVANTIUM CHEMICALS BVCoordinator · NL
SULZER CHEMTECH AGparticipant · CH
AVANTIUM RENEWABLE POLYMERS BVthirdparty · NL
LENNTECH BVparticipant · NL
AVANTIUM SUPPORT BVthirdparty · NL
AALTO KORKEAKOULUSAATIO SRparticipant · FI
SPHERA SOLUTIONS GMBHparticipant · DE
KAAKKOIS-SUOMEN AMMATTIKORKEAKOULU OYparticipant · FI
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSparticipant · FR
SYNVINA CVthirdparty · NL

How to reach the team

Avantium Chemicals BV (Netherlands) — a leading renewable chemistry company. Contact their business development team for licensing or partnership discussions.

Order a report on this consortium See AVANTIUM CHEMICALS BV profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the IMPRESS team to discuss licensing their biorefinery separation technology? SciTransfer can arrange a direct meeting with the right people.

Order a report on this topic More in Manufacturing & Industry 4.0