The transition to a greener economy requires innovative methods for producing chemicals using sustainable resources and cleaner technologies. One promising solution lies in transforming non-edible biomass, such as agricultural residues, industrial by-products, and urban waste, into valuable chemicals, including solvents, plastics, and ingredients for food and medicine. At the same time, as renewable energy sources like wind and solar become more prevalent, there is a growing need for chemical processes that can be integrated into the intermittent energy supply characteristic of these new energy sources.
BIOCATMAG brings these two challenges together. The project explores the valorisation of biomass using a cutting-edge method called magnetically induced catalysis, where specifically designed magnetic catalysts heat up very fast, efficiently and generate highly localised hot spots when exposed to an alternating magnetic field (AMF). In this way, the technology has the potential to enable chemical reactions to happen exactly where and when needed, without heating the entire reactor. This not only saves energy and adapts to fluctuating energy sources, but also enables more selective and, consequently, more sustainable chemical transformations. Despite its promise, magnetically induced catalysis remains in its infancy, particularly in aqueous-phase systems.
Therefore, BIOCATMAG focuses on three main objectives that target key chemical transformations in water and mild conditions. First, upgrading a cellulose-derived molecule (levoglucosenone) into greener alternatives to solvents and plastics; creating food- and pharma-relevant molecules directly from sugar and ammonia; and converting raw cellulose into high-value furan molecules using a single water-based process. In the last case, the project attempts to take advantage of the highly localized heating produced at the surface of magnetic nanoparticles to drive one reaction, while a second reaction occurs simultaneously in the cooler bulk liquid using a separate, non-magnetic catalyst, thereby allowing two distinct chemical steps to take place at two different temperatures, within the same reactor.
By combining smart catalyst design with magnetic heating, BIOCATMAG aims to demonstrate that chemical production can be cleaner, more energy-efficient, and better aligned with a future powered by renewable energy. The project's results offer hope for continuing to explore new technologies in green chemistry, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and supporting Europe’s broader goals for climate action and sustainable innovation.
