“Conceptual Study of Electrochemical based novel process using Lignosulfonates to produce bio-based monomers & polymers”
H2020 – N. 837276

DURATION
2019 – 2023 (48 months)

BBI JU CONTRIBUTION
€ 2,497,224.00

Project’s aim
Bio-based industries are central to building a European circular economy; meanwhile, using Europe’s own biomass resources improves raw material security by reducing reliance on fossil-based feedstock imports.
However, extracting higher-value compounds from lignin (a by-product of paper and pulp production), one of the most important low-cost feedstocks, is currently inefficient and expensive. The SElectiveLi project will address this challenge by using electrochemical processes that take advantage of surplus energy available via smart grids. This should reduce the cost of production as well as making it more effective and environmentally superior.
Using this approach, SElectiveLi will extract a range of aldehydes for potential food, adhesive, and pharmaceutical applications and intermediates for conversion into polymers. It will also develop downstream separation and purification processes for the latter.

We are in charge of carrying out the Life Cycle Assessment of all the innovative processes that are subject of the research, and of developing a web platform to collect data from all project members and provide environmental analysis and simulations

The SElectiveLi project aims to deliver a number of impacts. It seeks to:

- Improve sustainable biomass feedstock supply for both existing and new value chains. It will use a supply of sustainable lignosulfonate feedstock to validate the chemical production process at scale. This will ultimately improve how existing feedstock sources from pulp and paper are used.
- Research, develop and innovate ways to improve the efficiency of integrated biorefineries. This will produce higher-value chemicals at a lower cost and will use less energy.
- Develop innovative bio-based products for identified markets. These will include aldehydes and derivates suitable for use in common polymers.
- Create and accelerate the uptake of bio-based products and applications, by working closely with industrial companies already supplying lignin-based products to global markets.