ACB
Advanced Carbohydrates Biorefinery
Publieke samenvatting / Public summary
Aanleiding
This innovating project is about creating new generation biobased building blocks and biopolymers by converting tertiary cellulose from end-of-life sources into high value polylactic acid (PLA) and applications of the PLA, such as in self-healing concrete, an example produced in this project. The partners in the consortium range from a provider of sources that currently are incinerated and generating CO2 emissions through technology providers for conversion of cellulose into glucose, for glucose into lactic acid (LA), and for polymerization to PLA and applications of PLA. Also the necessary separation and purification steps in this circular chain are covered. With this inclusive consortium, we facilitate the entire chain of technologies that is needed for valorization of cellulose from waste into valuable PLA, and avoid its incineration. Implementation by our project partners can already lead to 245 kton/y CO2 emission reduction, and if a nationwide implementation will be reached later, then a reduction of 2.0 Mton/y CO2 emissions is possible (vide infra: section 3.2.1). These amounts are significant, and offer chances to replace fossil plastics by our PLA from cellulosic waste.
Doelstelling
Our overall project goal is to develop a production route that converts tertiary cellulose from waste streams that are currently still incinerated. We develop an innovative enzymatic conversion to glucose, and this glucose will be converted to LA by two innovative routes, one using mixed microbial cultures and one chemo-catalyzed. Also, chemical recycling of post-consumer PLA back to LA will be developed, resulting in an alternative source for lactic acid. We aim to produce PLA, and understand how the properties of our monomers (optical purity) define the properties of the PLA used in self?healing concrete. This is one of the applications of PLA matching with the MOOI objectives “development of Sustainable bio-based raw materials”, and “developing a new generation of building blocks and biopolymers.”
Korte omschrijving
• Creating a mixed stream of sugars through enzymatic hydrolysis; HVC sort and process cellulose-rich fractions, Recell enzymatic hydrolysis, VITO downstream processing and purification. • Developing a fermentation process in which lactic acid will be produced from a 3G carbohydrate feedstock; Nature's Principles fermenting based on mixed cultures, RUG with a catalytic route. • Purification and polymerization of lactic acid into PLA; Purification by Hanze, polymerization by TotalEnergies Corbion. • Product application testing by Green Basilisk. • Developing efficient technologies to convert post-consumer PLA waste to original monomeric building blocks; Hydrothermal approach by TORWASH, catalytic approach by RUG and Hanzehogeschool. • Project management and knowledge dissemination by ISPT.
Resultaat
The main results from the project include a technology transfer of the Recell Chem cellulose to glucose route on pilot scale for a new end-of-life source category from HVC, and downstream the development of the mixed microbial production of LA from this glucose source by Natures' Principles at pilot scale . Next to development of the biotech route to LA to pilot scale, an academic study will be performed on the chemo-catalyzed route, a potentially cheap alternative yielding racemic LA that can be applied in LA-esters. Furthermore, the TORWASH technology will be scaled up from bench-scale to a mobile pilot plant to demonstrate chemical conversion of PLA into lactic acid as a cost-effective recycling route for used PLA. In 10 years, we anticipate to have developed: • A full-scale installation to convert tertiary cellulose to glucose, used as a building block for many different applications including LA or other biochemicals. • A full scale polymer grade LA production facility of more than 10,000 ton/y from tertiary cellulose will be built for PLA production to apply in the building environment and packaging sector. • A full-scale plant for chemical recycling.
This innovating project is about creating new generation biobased building blocks and biopolymers by converting tertiary cellulose from end-of-life sources into high value polylactic acid (PLA) and applications of the PLA, such as in self-healing concrete, an example produced in this project. The partners in the consortium range from a provider of sources that currently are incinerated and generating CO2 emissions through technology providers for conversion of cellulose into glucose, for glucose into lactic acid (LA), and for polymerization to PLA and applications of PLA. Also the necessary separation and purification steps in this circular chain are covered. With this inclusive consortium, we facilitate the entire chain of technologies that is needed for valorization of cellulose from waste into valuable PLA, and avoid its incineration. Implementation by our project partners can already lead to 245 kton/y CO2 emission reduction, and if a nationwide implementation will be reached later, then a reduction of 2.0 Mton/y CO2 emissions is possible (vide infra: section 3.2.1). These amounts are significant, and offer chances to replace fossil plastics by our PLA from cellulosic waste.
Doelstelling
Our overall project goal is to develop a production route that converts tertiary cellulose from waste streams that are currently still incinerated. We develop an innovative enzymatic conversion to glucose, and this glucose will be converted to LA by two innovative routes, one using mixed microbial cultures and one chemo-catalyzed. Also, chemical recycling of post-consumer PLA back to LA will be developed, resulting in an alternative source for lactic acid. We aim to produce PLA, and understand how the properties of our monomers (optical purity) define the properties of the PLA used in self?healing concrete. This is one of the applications of PLA matching with the MOOI objectives “development of Sustainable bio-based raw materials”, and “developing a new generation of building blocks and biopolymers.”
Korte omschrijving
• Creating a mixed stream of sugars through enzymatic hydrolysis; HVC sort and process cellulose-rich fractions, Recell enzymatic hydrolysis, VITO downstream processing and purification. • Developing a fermentation process in which lactic acid will be produced from a 3G carbohydrate feedstock; Nature's Principles fermenting based on mixed cultures, RUG with a catalytic route. • Purification and polymerization of lactic acid into PLA; Purification by Hanze, polymerization by TotalEnergies Corbion. • Product application testing by Green Basilisk. • Developing efficient technologies to convert post-consumer PLA waste to original monomeric building blocks; Hydrothermal approach by TORWASH, catalytic approach by RUG and Hanzehogeschool. • Project management and knowledge dissemination by ISPT.
Resultaat
The main results from the project include a technology transfer of the Recell Chem cellulose to glucose route on pilot scale for a new end-of-life source category from HVC, and downstream the development of the mixed microbial production of LA from this glucose source by Natures' Principles at pilot scale . Next to development of the biotech route to LA to pilot scale, an academic study will be performed on the chemo-catalyzed route, a potentially cheap alternative yielding racemic LA that can be applied in LA-esters. Furthermore, the TORWASH technology will be scaled up from bench-scale to a mobile pilot plant to demonstrate chemical conversion of PLA into lactic acid as a cost-effective recycling route for used PLA. In 10 years, we anticipate to have developed: • A full-scale installation to convert tertiary cellulose to glucose, used as a building block for many different applications including LA or other biochemicals. • A full scale polymer grade LA production facility of more than 10,000 ton/y from tertiary cellulose will be built for PLA production to apply in the building environment and packaging sector. • A full-scale plant for chemical recycling.