Enhanced Biomass Valorisation by Engineering of Polyoxometalate Catalysts

Informazioni relative al progetto

BioValCat

ID dell’accordo di sovvenzione: 101086573

DOI

10.3030/101086573

Data della firma CE 3 Marzo 2023

Data di avvio 1 Settembre 2023

Data di completamento 31 Agosto 2028

Finanziato da

• European Research Council (ERC)

Costo totale

€ 1 996 625,00

Contributo UE

€ 1 996 625,00

Coordinato da

UNIVERSITY OF HAMBURG
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BioValCat (Enhanced Biomass Valorisation by Engineering of Polyoxometalate Catalysts)

Periodo di rendicontazione: 2023-09-01 al 2026-02-28

Sintesi del contesto e degli obiettivi generali del progetto

The BioValCat project explores a new way to transform renewable biomass – such as plant residues or agricultural by-products – into valuable chemicals that can be used for fuels, plastics, and other everyday materials. At the heart of this approach are special molecular catalysts called polyoxometalates (POMs), which are able to break down complex natural molecules into smaller, useful ones in a highly controlled way.

The project builds on a breakthrough discovery: by adjusting the liquid environment and gas atmosphere around these catalysts, their behaviour can be tuned with great precision. In particular, adding small amounts of alcohols such as methanol completely prevents undesired total carbon dioxide formation. As a result, almost all the carbon from the biomass is transformed into valuable products, such as formic acid esters, which are important renewable platform chemicals and energy carriers.

BioValCat aims to turn this promising scientific concept into a safe, scalable, and economically viable process for converting biomass into carboxylic acid esters – high-value compounds used across the chemical industry. The project combines molecular chemistry with process and reactor engineering to understand how the catalyst, solvent, and substrate interact under different reaction conditions. It also develops new catalyst structures that are efficient and stable in mixed water–alcoholic environments and capable of processing real biomass feedstocks.

By improving efficiency and selectivity, BioValCat supports Europe’s transition to a circular and carbon-neutral bioeconomy. It provides a sustainable alternative to fossil-based chemistry and offers new opportunities for decentralised, small-scale conversion of waste biomass into renewable materials and energy sources.

Lavoro eseguito dall’inizio del progetto fino alla fine del periodo coperto dalla relazione e principali risultati finora ottenuti

Over the first project period, BioValCat made major progress in understanding and applying POM catalysts for biomass conversion. Using advanced molecular analysis and computer simulations, the project revealed how solvent molecules directly affect the catalyst’s structure and performance. These studies showed that small alcohols can influence specific forms of the catalyst and adjust its activity, explaining why the addition of methanol increases product selectivity and suppresses CO2 formation.

The team also created and tested new families of POM catalysts containing vanadium and niobium in various structural arrangements. This systematic work demonstrated how the three-dimensional architecture of the catalyst determines which products are formed. For example, some structures favour the production of formic acid, while others guide the reaction toward acetic or lactic acid. These results provide valuable design rules for developing catalysts with tailor-made selectivity.

Further studies examined how the starting materials (substrates) interact with the solvents. The research showed that, contrary to earlier assumptions, these interactions play only a secondary role in determining reaction rates and product composition – especially for small sugar-derived molecules. Under oxygen-free conditions, the reaction was found to follow an alternative pathway that produces lactic acid instead of formic acid, broadening the possible range of products from biomass.

In parallel, the project developed new reactor concepts for biomass valorisation. A new jet-loop reactor was designed to demonstrate the multiphasic process under industrial conditions. This innovative reactor design ensures excellent contact between gas and liquid phases and very efficient oxygen transfer, enabling stable and energy-efficient operation. The prototype successfully converted glycerol, a by-product of biodiesel production, into formic acid with high selectivity. A miniplant version for continuous operation has been built and will be commissioned in the next project phase. Moreover, a Taylor-flow reactor setup has been successfully applied for oxidation of a commercial residue form the sugar industry to formic acid in collaboration with partners.

Together, these achievements link molecular-level understanding with process development – laying the groundwork for future large-scale, selective biomass-to-chemical technologies.

Progressi oltre lo stato dell’arte e potenziale impatto previsto (incluso l’impatto socioeconomico e le implicazioni sociali più ampie del progetto fino ad ora)

BioValCat has opened up new scientific and technological perspectives for the efficient use of renewable resources. It introduced a novel approach to catalyst control: instead of modifying the catalyst itself, the project demonstrated that changing the surrounding solvent can tune its electronic structure and reactivity. This innovative concept allows for selective oxidation of biomass without producing unwanted CO2, setting a new standard for precision in homogeneous catalysis.

The project also developed a new generation of engineered POM catalysts to produce different carboxylic acids. These new POMs combine high catalytic activity with exceptional stability, enabling their use in industrially relevant reaction conditions involving complex biomass feedstocks.

Equally important, BioValCat bridged the gap between molecular chemistry and chemical engineering through the development of new reactor platforms. The jet-loop reactor design achieves excellent gas–liquid mixing and mass transfer with low energy consumption, outperforming conventional stirred-tank systems. Moreover, the Taylor-flow microreactor enabled rapid conversion of the commercial sugar residue Renmatix to formic acid, allowing for effective mixing in combination with intrinsic safety and drastically reduced reaction times. These successful demonstrations represent a major step toward industrial implementation of continuous, sustainable oxidation processes.

Beyond its scientific advances, BioValCat contributes directly to Europe’s goals for green chemistry and the circular economy. By transforming waste biomass into renewable chemicals such as formic, acetic, and lactic acid, the project offers a route to reduce dependence on fossil raw materials, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and enable local, flexible production of sustainable platform chemicals.

Future work will optimise the new catalysts for complex biomass inputs, further intensify the process, and validate the innovative reactor concepts for commercial biomass feedstock. In doing so, BioValCat paves the way for a new generation of low-carbon, decentralised biorefineries that turn waste into value – making renewable chemistry a practical reality.

„BioValCat“ – Enhanced Biomass Valorisation by Engineering of Polyoxometalate Catalysts