Upgrading of renewable domestic raw materials to value-added bulk and fine chemicals for a biobased economy: technology development, systems integration and environmental impact assessment (BioBuF)
Research Project, 2013 – 2018

In this project, a novel biorefinery concept will be developed, wherein domestic renewable raw materials in the form of forestry residues (GROT) and micro-algae are converted into an array of bulk and added-value products. Adipic acid (the precursor of nylon) will be produced by microbial conversion of the main carbohydrate fractions of the raw materials. Aromatic chemicals, such as terephthalic acid, will be produced by bioconversion of the lignin fraction of GROT. Separation technology and pretreatment will be developed to obtain a lignin fraction that can be further converted into aromatic compounds. The potential of microalgae as a source of added-value chemicals will also be assessed. Side streams will be used in anaerobic digestion and bioelectrochemical systems, to improve the water economy, and allow for nutrient recycling within the process. Experimental data obtained in the project and from literature surveys will be used to assess the environmental impact of the entire process, including land use effects of producing and harvesting the raw materials. These data will also be used to assess the potential for integration with existing industry and its economic advantages. Scale-up effects on the environmental performance of different process steps will be assessed in parallel with the technology development. Our studies will lead to pinpointing which technological improvements are necessary for making this biorefinery-based technology sustainable.

Participants

Lisbeth Olsson (contact)

Chalmers, Life Sciences, Industrial Biotechnology

Eva Albers

Chalmers, Life Sciences, Industrial Biotechnology

Thore Berntsson

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Energy Technology

Maurizio Bettiga

Chalmers, Life Sciences, Industrial Biotechnology

Christel Cederberg

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Physical Resource Theory

Carl Johan Franzén

Chalmers, Life Sciences, Industrial Biotechnology

Simon Harvey

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Energy Technology

Mathias Janssen

Chalmers, Technology Management and Economics, Environmental Systems Analysis

Christel Kampman

Chalmers, Life Sciences, Industrial Biotechnology

Emma Karlsson

Chalmers, Life Sciences, Industrial Biotechnology

Valeria Mapelli

Chalmers, Life Sciences, Industrial Biotechnology

Joshua Mayers

Chalmers, Life Sciences, Industrial Biotechnology

Stavros Papadokonstantakis

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Energy Technology

Karin Pettersson

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Energy Technology

Elin Svensson

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Energy Technology

Hans Theliander

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

Anne-Marie Tillman

Chalmers, Technology Management and Economics, Environmental Systems Analysis

Nikolaos Xafenias

Chalmers, Life Sciences, Industrial Biotechnology

Collaborations

SIK – the Swedish Institute for Food and Biotechnology

Gothenburg, Sweden

Funding

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Project Id: 6392