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Synthesis of Bio-based and Biodegradable polymers from monomers from renewable Biowastes via Biocatalysis and Green Chemistry to contribute to European Circular Bioeconomy

Project description

Bio-based and biodegradable polymers for a circular economy

The EU-funded Polymers-5B project will explore breakthrough routes to creating a new generation of bio-based and biodegradable polymers using underexploited second-generation feedstocks, including tomato pomace, olive oil pomace, wood pulp residues and lignin derivatives. By integrating biocatalysis with green chemistry, the project will investigate innovative monomers and polymerisation strategies that could unlock material properties not achievable with current fossil-based polymers. Its sustainable-by-design approach ensures that environmental performance, degradation behaviour and circularity are considered from the earliest research stages. Polymers-5B aims to generate foundational knowledge that can open new technological pathways for future polymer innovation, demonstrating how low-value biomass streams can inspire radically new material concepts for a more circular and resource-efficient economy.

Objective

POLYMERS-5B aims to develop novel alternative biobased polymers synthesized from biobased monomers (diacids, diols, diamines, hydroxyacids, aminoacids, aromatic and phenolic compounds, fatty acids, oils, furans), sourced from underexploited second generation (2G) feedstocks such as agri/food waste (Tomato and Olive wastes) and biomass (wood pulp and lignin derivatives), obeying the food first and cascading principle.
The project will resort to Biocatalysis and Green Chemistry processes to generate novel biobased polymers like polyesters and polyamides with pendent functional groups, (e.g. hydroxy, carboxylic, amine, epoxy, thiol, others), polyphenols and poly-furans, that mimic fossil-based polymers properties (e.g. polyethene terephthalate-PET, Polyurethanes-PUs, Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene-ABS, Amine and other polymeric resins), targeting improved biodegradability. These new polymers will be blended to provide valuable bio-composites and polymeric materials for the textile, automotive, furniture and polymeric resin markets.
Machine Learning (ML) tools will drive the optimization of the developed technologies towards minimum resource usage “zero waste” and “zero pollution”, while technological, economic, and environmental sustainability aspects will be incorporated early in the design phase by adopting Sustainable by Design (SSbD) approaches. This sustainable strategy will contribute to an increase in the availability of monomers, bio-based polymers & plastic materials synthesized in the EU, that meet the Green Deal targets, reducing the carbon footprint and dependency on fossil-based raw materials and derivatives.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-JU-RIA - HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-JU-CBE-2023

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Coordinator

IST-ID ASSOCIACAO DO INSTITUTO SUPERIOR TECNICO PARA A INVESTIGACAO E O DESENVOLVIMENTO
Net EU contribution
€ 649 423,75
Total cost
€ 649 423,75

Participants (12)