BIO-HArT
Cross-border collaboration within the framework of Interreg V Vlaanderen – The Netherlands
Start of this cross-border collaboration in March 2016
This cross-border collaboration within the framework of Interreg V Vlaanderen – The Netherlands is focused on the scaling up of technology for the production of aromatics from biomass. This will result in functioning bench scale demonstrators that can produce samples from wood, sugars and lignin for the industry on a kilogram scale. The furans, alkylphenols, mono-, di- & tri-acids, functionalized phenols and other aromatic compounds will be used to develop suitable applications together with industrial partners. The BIO-HArT bench scale demonstrators will be realized at five different locations in the border region that complement each other optimally: the Green Chemistry Campus in Bergen op Zoom, the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant in Gent, the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen, the Chem&Tech Campus in Leuven and Blue Gate in Antwerp. The accelerated establishment of value chains within this project will give an impulse to businesses and employment in South-Netherlands and Flanders. The project officially started in March 2016 and will run for 3 years. The InSciTe Lignin RICHES project is part of BIO-HArT.
Project leader
TNO under the flag of Biorizon
University of Maastricht, progress 2018
(Peter Quaedflieg)
At the University of Maastricht various samples of lignin monomers and oligomers were used to produce resins and lubricants. These samples had been prepared by the project partners TU Eindhoven, KU Leuven and VITO. W.r.t. the conversion to resins a completely new method was developed based on derivatization of the hydroxyl functions of the lignin monomers and oligomers which subsequently were cured by a newly developed crosslinker in the presence of an initiator. This approach is an alternative for the existing lignin-phenol-formaldehyde resins. With this new method less toxic chemicals are needed and less volatile vapors are formed during curing and milder conditions can be used. Satisfyingly, 75-96% of the phenolic hydroxyl groups of the lignin oligomers could be derivatized. The resulting resins are being further studied in WP7. W.r.t. the conversion to lubricants the hydroxyl functions of the lignin monomers and oligomers were derivatized in two ways to increase the compatibility with plant oils and to increase the thermo-oxidative stability. In the first method, the conversion of the phenolic hydroxyl functions was complete and that of the aliphatic hydroxyl functions 65-100%. In the second method, the conversion of the phenolic hydroxyl functions was over 90%, and that of the aliphatic hydroxyl functions 40-100%. It can be concluded that the modifications can be successfully introduced. The resulting lubricants are being further studied in WP7.
Eindhoven University of Technology, progess 2018
(Peter Quaedflieg, Michael Boot)
In 2018 the TU/e worked on two concepts for lignin depolymerisation, i.e. the 1-step process and the 2-step process. After we examined the technical feasibility of the 1-step process at 4 L scale, we further looked into the economic viability of this technology, by introducing two performance criteria, both of which being a function of lignin monomer yield. The ratios (g/g) of yield over total feed, and yield over ethanol losses are presented as qualitative indicators for capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX), respectively. This exercise sheds some light on the trade-off between yield optimization and cost minimization. Low lignin: solvent ratios and diluted feeds will require massive flows of solvents which are translated to greater equipment size (e.g., catalytic reactors, distillation columns for solvent recovery, mixers). The monomer/feed ratio should be relatively high to ensure affordable CAPEX for commercialization. It was shown that this ratio increased with higher lignin loadings. We can lower the CAPEX and OPEX indicators by moderately increasing the lignin loadings, but in extreme cases, the additional expenses of catalyst fouling arise. It was found that in 1:10 w/v lignin: ethanol ratio the catalyst activity drops significantly. The 2-step process consists of: 1) a thermolytic solvolysis step which converts solid lignin to a heavy crude lignin oil (crude ligin oil = CLO); 2) an upgrade of this CLO using commercial hydrodeoxygenation catalysts (Pd/C or Pt/C). The conditions of the solvolysis step have already been optimized up to 4 L scale and this step is ready to be tested on pilot plant scale (> 50 L). This first step now allows a high liginin loading and the remaining solid ligin fragments and char can be removed so that contact with the catalyst in step 2 is avoided. Now step 2 is being improved, i.e. the hydrodeoxygenation of the CLO from step 1 and further depolymerization of the lignin fragments into aromatic monomers. Pd/C and Pt/C appeared to be very selective in producing mainly aromatic lignin monomers. Up to 30 wt % of lignin monoaromatics could be obtained from CLO intermediate. Stability and recyclability of the catalysts were evaluated as well. Next to these, we are tracking the structural changes of different lignin feedstocks during the whole process, by developing a lignin library where we link the nature of the feedstock with the quality of the products. For recent paper publication see https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11244-018-1048-5
Project Partners
DSM, Eindhoven University of Technology, Maastricht University, Avantium, Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, KU Leuven, University of Antwerp, VITO
