Objective
CIRCLE aims at demonstrating at industrial scale a first-of-its-kind retrofitted biorefinery for the valorisation of food waste streams and additional biomasses into high-value bio-based chemicals and intermediates, lactic acid (LA) as well as derived products, including polylactic acid (PLA), upgrading and expanding the production capacity of an existing biogas plant.
The upgrade proposed will valorise the food waste streams currently processed for biogas production to produce LA ready for downstream high-value applications, including the production of PLA and derived new and higher-value products. The process will take advantage of the existing facility and of the renewable energy (biogas and heat) directly produced, thus making the production highly energy efficient. The proposed technology is highly scalable and replicable as it is designed to be deployed as an ‘add-on’ to existing food waste processing infrastructures. CIRCLE will reach the TRL8 by the end of the project by demonstrating the production of raw LA, which will be then converted into clean lactate salt (CLS) and into industrial and polymer-grade LA (≥ 95-99%). The polymer-grade LA will be in turn polymerized into a recyclable PLA, which can replace fossil-based polypropylene (PP) in a wide range of applications, with a significant impact on GHG emissions and environmental pollution avoidance.
The application of bio-based chemicals and intermediates will be demonstrated through the production of a wide portfolio of bio-based products fully compliant with market requirements, such as cover cosmetics products (for CLS and LA), cleaning products (for LA) as well as the automotive, cosmetics and food packaging sectors (for PLA).
The new circular value chain is expected to generate €20M of turnover and ca. 50 jobs. Retrofitting the existing biorefinery will allow saving at least 10% of the CAPEX.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybiomaterialsbioplasticspolylactic acid
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energy
- natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryorganic acids
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesfood technologyfood packaging
- agricultural sciencesagricultural biotechnologybiomass
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-JU-IA - HORIZON JU Innovation ActionsCoordinator
4250407 Netanya
Israel
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
Participants (15)
Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
9050 Gent
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
3825 Amersfoort
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9042 Desteldonk Gent
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
2390 Malle
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38440 Wolfsburg
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00120 Helsinki
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
2612 PA Delft
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
13522 Tallinn
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4501306 Hod Hasharon
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
26900 Lodi
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71306 Irakleio
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
9000 GAND
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3818 LE Amersfoort
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65936 FRANKFURT AM MAIN
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43126 Parma
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Partners (2)
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
8401 Winterthur
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Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
07336 SEOUL
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