Skip to main content
European Commission logo
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS
CORDIS Web 30th anniversary CORDIS Web 30th anniversary

Fuel and chemicals from lignin through enzymatic and chemical conversion

Project description

From waste to sustainable fuel

The rapid transition to a bio-based economy has presented researchers and industries with the challenge of developing sustainable processes. For instance, second-generation biofuel plants generate a significant amount of lignin-rich sludge as a byproduct after carbohydrate saccharification. The EU-funded FALCON project will tackle the challenge of the lignin-rich sludge waste stream, which is growing exponentially with more plants being built. Specifically, it will convert this waste into shipping fuels, fuel additives, and chemical building blocks, minimising waste and offering alternatives to fossil resource-based processes. Through enzymatic and mild chemical conversion, the FALCON process will provide an eco friendly approach to fuel and chemical production.

Objective

The transition to a biobased economy puts strong challenges on researchers and industry to develop sustainable processes. 2G biofuel plants use waste streams as substrates, but themselves generate a new waste stream of lignin-rich sludge that is left after saccharification of the carbohydrates. This waste stream is expected to exponentially increase with an increasing number of 2G bioethanol plants being built, according to a report of the International Energy Agency.
FALCON aims to convert this lignin-rich industrial waste of 2G biofuel plants to higher value products, in particular shipping fuels, fuel additives and chemical building blocks. This would be the next consecutive step in turning waste to products, thus minimizing waste and simultaneously providing new alternatives for fossil resource based processes. The FALCON process is based on enzymatic and mild chemical conversion of the lignin waste stream, providing a more environmentally friendly approach to the production of fuels and chemical building blocks.
FALCON takes full advantage of the lessons learned over the last 150 years in the petrochemical industry with respect to design of the processes. This implies an initial treatment at the 2G bioethanol plant, converting the waste to a lignin oil that can be more easily transported and also directly used as a low sulphur shipping fuel. It will be further converted into fuel additives and chemical building blocks in centralized facilities.
To achieve this, FALCON has formed a consortium of industry (3), SME (4) and academics (2) covering the whole value chain from a 2G biofuel plant delivering the lignin waste to enzyme producers, chemists and process engineers to depolymerize the lignin to oil. End-users are a fuel and chemicals producer and a ship engine developer. This unique combination of expertise and infrastructure will ensure the development of three new value chains with a strong emphasis on the economical sustainability.

Call for proposal

H2020-NMBP-2016-2017

See other projects for this call

Sub call

H2020-NMBP-BIO-2016

Coordinator

KONINKLIJKE NEDERLANDSE AKADEMIE VAN WETENSCHAPPEN - KNAW
Net EU contribution
€ 1 706 850,00
Address
KLOVENIERSBURGWAL 29 HET TRIPPENHUIS
1011 JV AMSTERDAM
Netherlands

See on map

Region
West-Nederland Noord-Holland Groot-Amsterdam
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
€ 1 706 850,00

Participants (8)