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Description
The availability of compact and cost-efficient solutions for sustainable production of platform chemicals and higher value compounds is essential for renewables to become Europe''s dominant primary carbon source. NoviCo will contribute to achieve EU’s ambitious objectives, by providing an innovative technological solution for the sustainable and socially acceptable conversion of low value lignocellulosic residues, such as thinnings, sawdust into biobased chemicals and materials precursors. The core of NoviCo is the separation and functionalization of lignin from lignocellulose, specifically from pine and spruce. The former step consists of ionic-liquid based extraction. Functionalization by electrochemical oxidation and fungal conversion will be explored with respect to conversion, yield of valuable products and complexity of product mix. Promising results can widen the feedstock portfolio to agricultural residues.
The experimental work will be complemented by evaluating integration options for those processes into established and new biorefinery infrastructure. Efficient, compact and safe processes will be developed, operating at mild conditions, and targeting high carbon yields. The experimental development is supported by a broad sustainability analysis including economic feasibility, environmental footprint and impact on society, innovation potential and development in rural areas with high biomass availability.
NoviCo will validate the new technology at lab-scale (TRL2-3), using an integrated approach covering the entire process and variable feedstock, minimizing separation costs, and increasing resource and carbon efficiency. The lab scale process developed will be the prototype for a future production system of biobased chemicals.
The NoviCo consortium provides complementary world class expertise along the entire value chain and strong commitment to maximize dissemination, communication and exploitation of the results through industrial implementation.
Summary of project results
Reuse of agri-food industry by-products and waste has become more and more popular. ''Zero Waste Concept'' is promoted via shift from generation of minimal wastes towards maximal utilization of plant-based agri-food raw materials. One of the waste/by-products in the agri-food industry is lignin, which occurs as part of lignocellulosic biomass. Traditional biomass valorization routes include the transformation of cellulose and hemicellulose, but lignin is wasted. Within NoviCo “lignin-first” approach was set up as the key concept. The core activities of the NoviCo Project included the assessment of protic ionic liquids as a sustainable alternative to lignin fractionation, synthesis and produced lignin products with their subsequent electrochemical depolymerization at various process conditions. The produced holocellulose was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis and subsequent fermentation.
Lignocellulosic biomass is a significant source of sustainable fuel and high-value chemical production. Comprising approximately 15-20% of lignocellulose, lignin is an aromatic biopolymer found in the vascular tissues of plants, which together with cellulose and hemicellulose, forms a natural structural bio-composite, providing rigidity and mechanical strength to the plant’s cell and structures. Nevertheless, in traditional valorization schemes, it is the least used. Within NoviCo alternative routes for lignin valorization were addressed with the main emphasis on „lignin-first“pathways .
The project evaluated and synthesized protic ionic liquids as sustainable alternatives for lignin removal. Electrochemical depolymerization was also analyzed as a method for lignin degradation. At the same time, the produced holocellulose was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. Overall, NoviCo has developed an integrated (bio)chemical process for the efficient valorization of lignocellulose that can be transferred to the industrial production. The key conclusions of the NoviCo were in line with the main bottlenecks identified before the project:
1. Efficient conversion process can recover up to 79% of lignin from the biomass and green chemicals – protic ionic liquids can be used for this process.
2. Controlled enzymatic hydrolysis and carefully selected fungal strains can enhance both lignin degradation and subsequent carbohydrate production from various sources of biomass. White rot fungi have been estimated as the most potent organisms for this purpose.
3. Electrochemical lignin depolymerisation is technically feasible, however, coupling with other techniques, e.g., lignin fractionation with PILs, is still challenging and requires careful parameter selection for industrial production scale.
The NoviCo consortium has created new world-class expertise in the biomass recycling and waste efficiency value chain and a strong commitment to maximize the dissemination, communication and use of results. The project has developed collaborative activities on various interrelated topics, including knowledge transfer on methods for the analysis of lignin and its depolymerization products and electrochemical conversion methods, proteomics of hydrolytic enzyme-producing fungi with the aim of harmonizing and synchronizing research methods.
Indicators achieved in the project: 2 joint scientific publications have been prepared, 3 joint project applications for further funding were submitted, 9 researchers were supported.
Summary of bilateral results
NoviCo project has set up an integrated (bio)chemical process for lignocellulose valorisation that has the potential to be transferred to industrial manufacturing scale. The NoviCo consortium provided complementary world class expertise along the entire value chain and strong commitment to maximizing dissemination, communication, and exploitation of the results through industrial implementation. Collaborative activities have been developed in various inter-related topics, including knowledge transfer of analysis methods and electrochemical conversion techniques for lignins and their depolymerization products, proteomics of applied fungi with the aim to align and synchronize scientific methods. Several scientific seminars were organized to disseminate the results and presentations at other international events were made to contribute to the socio-economic impact. During the research activities, regular inter-partner communication and joint research was made.