Final Report Summary - BIOFUR (BIOpolymers and BIOfuels from FURan based building blocks)
Marie Curie Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways (IAPP) Project BioFur (Call Identifier:FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IAPP); Project Number 324292: BIOpolymers and BIOfuels from FURan based building block (BIOFUR).
General Aspects and Objectives
From 2013-01-01 to 2016-12-31. The BIOFUR project consists of three partners: 1) the SME Avantium Chemicals (AVT - NL), 2) the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS - FR) and 3) the University of Messina (UNIME - IT), both leaders in their respective fields (polymers characterization and catalysis). This multi-sectorial research work has the aim to reinforce through mutual collaboration and secondments activities the knowledge on the production and characterization of biobased polymers, fuels and chemicals based on furanics as building blocks. The project consists of three workpackages.
The main objective of the BIOFUR project was to show that the knowledge transfer for the three host organizations through the secondment of their own staff and the recruitment of researchers from outside the partnership is very beneficial for the host organizations by significantly increasing their research quality and overall RTD capabilities and competitiveness. The dissemination and outreach activities have contributed to the greater European community to benefit from the results of this project.
Motivations and Background
Furanics are one of the more relevant classes of biobased platform molecules deriving from carbohydrates, to which AVT was one of the main industrial developers. BIOFUR project main objective was to increase academy-industry knowledge and collaborations in the scientific area around these activities, as a strategy element to reinforce capacities for innovation. The successful industrialization, even if the BIOFUR project focus was around rather than directly on the topic of the FDCA/FET route, testify the importance of the topic and the successful realization of the BIOFUR project.
To progress in the development of new furanic derivatives into novel polymer applications and fuel, the BIOFUR project aimed to combine the world class knowledge of UNIME and CNRS on catalysts and kinetics/rheology respectively with the high-tech infrastructure and catalytic biomass conversion knowledge of AVT. The strategy of the IAPP was from one side to strength the Industry- Academia Partnerships in the area of production of high performance bio-polymers (in particular polyesters, e.g. PEF, PPF), which was the area in which Avantium needed specific contribution for the process development, and on the other hand, invest in the longer-term development of more efficient nanostructured catalysts and catalytic processes for producing the monomers for bio-polymers and alternative products, biofuels or high value chemicals, which will allow to further improve sustainability of the processes and diversify the range of products obtained for a full exploitation of the raw materials.
Main Results
The BIOFUR project has shown that the knowledge transfer for the three host organisations through the secondment of their own staff and the recruitment of researchers from outside the partnership has been very beneficial for the host organisations by significantly increasing their research quality and overall RTD capabilities and competitiveness.
The MC (Marie Curie) fellows were exposed to a highly innovative SME environment which bridges the aspects from fundamental research to the industrial innovation, and to academic excellent groups having complementary and interdisciplinary approaches, in the frame of a relevant and actual research topic (development of new generation processes and materials for a bio-based economy) which has a market positive impact on society and environment.
In order to achieve these ambitious goals, the MC fellows have used an interdisciplinary approach. The work included both fundamental and applied research on the main reaction mechanisms and product properties. Theoretical concepts and applied analytical tools from chemical engineering, rheology, physical chemistry of materials, catalysis and molecular modelling were implemented. Partner AVT provided expertise on the development of novel industrial processes and bio-based products, and high throughput testing. Partner UNIME provided expertise on the tailored synthesis of catalytic materials and their scale-up, their characterization by combined physico-chemical techniques, and their lab-scale testing and kinetics. Partner CNRS provided expertise in physico-chemical character ization and improvement of polymeric material with specific properties. The MC fellows were exposed to a unique multidisciplinary environment which goes across fundamental and applied aspects in an industrially-driven vision.
Outline of the results of the research programme
The results of the project have thus to measure against this scope, rather than in terms of specific results, which are testified, however, from 18 joint peer reviewed publication, 2 joint papers in proceedings of a conference/workshop, 3 PhD theses (in joint supervision with AVT; additional 3 PhD students have not yet concluded their study at the time of end of BIOFUR project), 2 patents and several presentations at conferences and workshops. In addition, over 6 new research projects proposals, deriving from BIOFUR collaboration have been presented by BIOFUR Consortium partners.
The following secondment activities have been realized:
- 1st period (from 01/01/2013 to 31/12/2014) for a total of 31 PMs: 4 researchers (2 ER > 10, 1 ER < 10, 1 ESR) seconded from participant AVT (2 to CNRS and 2 to UNIME), 4 researchers (1 ER > 10, 1 ER < 10, 2 ESR) seconded from participant CNRS to AVT, 2 researchers (1 ER > 10, 1 ESR) seconded from participant UNIME to AVT
- 2nd period (from 01/01/2015 to 31/12/2016) for a total of 23 PMs: 5 researchers (2 ER > 10, 1 ER < 10, 2 ESR) seconded from participant AVT (3 to CNRS and 2 to UNIME), 5 researchers (1 ER > 10, 1 ER < 10, 3 ESR) seconded from participant CNRS to AVT, 4 researchers (2 ER > 10, 2 ESR) seconded from participant UNIME to AVT
The following recruitment activities have been realized:
- 1st period (from 01/01/2013 to 31/12/2014) for a total of 3 PMs: 1 researchers (ER < 10) recruited from participant CNRS
- 2nd period (from 01/01/2015 to 31/12/2016) for a total of 31 PMs: 1 researchers (ER < 10) recruited from participant CNRS, 1 researcher (ER < 10) recruited from AVT
In terms of project Milestones (9 in total), they were all realized, except two only partially. In terms of dissemination, besides the many publications and presentation at conferences, a specialized workshop on PEF has been organized (open to public) and outreach activities for general public has been made (Festival of Science).
Project objectives fulfilment
As commented above, the BIOFUR project objective, taking into account its scope as IAPP project, were realized in terms of both strengthened in the academy-industry collaboration and knowledge sharing (with positive results in terms of scientific and industrial output), personal carrier development (particularly for the young researchers), scientific output (as indicated from the many joint publications) and society impact (as indicated from dissemination activities). The milestones have been reached.
Project web site and contacts
Project web site: https://www.avantium.com/biofur. The BIOFUR website will be active after the end of the project to serve as the main and continuous tool for dissemination. The contact details are the following: Dr. Ed de Jong, coordinator and the other lead researchers are Prof. Gabriele Centi (centi@unime.it) of UNIME and Prof. Nicolas Sbirrazzuoli (Nicolas.SBIRRAZZUOLI@unice.fr) of CNRS.
General Aspects and Objectives
From 2013-01-01 to 2016-12-31. The BIOFUR project consists of three partners: 1) the SME Avantium Chemicals (AVT - NL), 2) the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS - FR) and 3) the University of Messina (UNIME - IT), both leaders in their respective fields (polymers characterization and catalysis). This multi-sectorial research work has the aim to reinforce through mutual collaboration and secondments activities the knowledge on the production and characterization of biobased polymers, fuels and chemicals based on furanics as building blocks. The project consists of three workpackages.
The main objective of the BIOFUR project was to show that the knowledge transfer for the three host organizations through the secondment of their own staff and the recruitment of researchers from outside the partnership is very beneficial for the host organizations by significantly increasing their research quality and overall RTD capabilities and competitiveness. The dissemination and outreach activities have contributed to the greater European community to benefit from the results of this project.
Motivations and Background
Furanics are one of the more relevant classes of biobased platform molecules deriving from carbohydrates, to which AVT was one of the main industrial developers. BIOFUR project main objective was to increase academy-industry knowledge and collaborations in the scientific area around these activities, as a strategy element to reinforce capacities for innovation. The successful industrialization, even if the BIOFUR project focus was around rather than directly on the topic of the FDCA/FET route, testify the importance of the topic and the successful realization of the BIOFUR project.
To progress in the development of new furanic derivatives into novel polymer applications and fuel, the BIOFUR project aimed to combine the world class knowledge of UNIME and CNRS on catalysts and kinetics/rheology respectively with the high-tech infrastructure and catalytic biomass conversion knowledge of AVT. The strategy of the IAPP was from one side to strength the Industry- Academia Partnerships in the area of production of high performance bio-polymers (in particular polyesters, e.g. PEF, PPF), which was the area in which Avantium needed specific contribution for the process development, and on the other hand, invest in the longer-term development of more efficient nanostructured catalysts and catalytic processes for producing the monomers for bio-polymers and alternative products, biofuels or high value chemicals, which will allow to further improve sustainability of the processes and diversify the range of products obtained for a full exploitation of the raw materials.
Main Results
The BIOFUR project has shown that the knowledge transfer for the three host organisations through the secondment of their own staff and the recruitment of researchers from outside the partnership has been very beneficial for the host organisations by significantly increasing their research quality and overall RTD capabilities and competitiveness.
The MC (Marie Curie) fellows were exposed to a highly innovative SME environment which bridges the aspects from fundamental research to the industrial innovation, and to academic excellent groups having complementary and interdisciplinary approaches, in the frame of a relevant and actual research topic (development of new generation processes and materials for a bio-based economy) which has a market positive impact on society and environment.
In order to achieve these ambitious goals, the MC fellows have used an interdisciplinary approach. The work included both fundamental and applied research on the main reaction mechanisms and product properties. Theoretical concepts and applied analytical tools from chemical engineering, rheology, physical chemistry of materials, catalysis and molecular modelling were implemented. Partner AVT provided expertise on the development of novel industrial processes and bio-based products, and high throughput testing. Partner UNIME provided expertise on the tailored synthesis of catalytic materials and their scale-up, their characterization by combined physico-chemical techniques, and their lab-scale testing and kinetics. Partner CNRS provided expertise in physico-chemical character ization and improvement of polymeric material with specific properties. The MC fellows were exposed to a unique multidisciplinary environment which goes across fundamental and applied aspects in an industrially-driven vision.
Outline of the results of the research programme
The results of the project have thus to measure against this scope, rather than in terms of specific results, which are testified, however, from 18 joint peer reviewed publication, 2 joint papers in proceedings of a conference/workshop, 3 PhD theses (in joint supervision with AVT; additional 3 PhD students have not yet concluded their study at the time of end of BIOFUR project), 2 patents and several presentations at conferences and workshops. In addition, over 6 new research projects proposals, deriving from BIOFUR collaboration have been presented by BIOFUR Consortium partners.
The following secondment activities have been realized:
- 1st period (from 01/01/2013 to 31/12/2014) for a total of 31 PMs: 4 researchers (2 ER > 10, 1 ER < 10, 1 ESR) seconded from participant AVT (2 to CNRS and 2 to UNIME), 4 researchers (1 ER > 10, 1 ER < 10, 2 ESR) seconded from participant CNRS to AVT, 2 researchers (1 ER > 10, 1 ESR) seconded from participant UNIME to AVT
- 2nd period (from 01/01/2015 to 31/12/2016) for a total of 23 PMs: 5 researchers (2 ER > 10, 1 ER < 10, 2 ESR) seconded from participant AVT (3 to CNRS and 2 to UNIME), 5 researchers (1 ER > 10, 1 ER < 10, 3 ESR) seconded from participant CNRS to AVT, 4 researchers (2 ER > 10, 2 ESR) seconded from participant UNIME to AVT
The following recruitment activities have been realized:
- 1st period (from 01/01/2013 to 31/12/2014) for a total of 3 PMs: 1 researchers (ER < 10) recruited from participant CNRS
- 2nd period (from 01/01/2015 to 31/12/2016) for a total of 31 PMs: 1 researchers (ER < 10) recruited from participant CNRS, 1 researcher (ER < 10) recruited from AVT
In terms of project Milestones (9 in total), they were all realized, except two only partially. In terms of dissemination, besides the many publications and presentation at conferences, a specialized workshop on PEF has been organized (open to public) and outreach activities for general public has been made (Festival of Science).
Project objectives fulfilment
As commented above, the BIOFUR project objective, taking into account its scope as IAPP project, were realized in terms of both strengthened in the academy-industry collaboration and knowledge sharing (with positive results in terms of scientific and industrial output), personal carrier development (particularly for the young researchers), scientific output (as indicated from the many joint publications) and society impact (as indicated from dissemination activities). The milestones have been reached.
Project web site and contacts
Project web site: https://www.avantium.com/biofur. The BIOFUR website will be active after the end of the project to serve as the main and continuous tool for dissemination. The contact details are the following: Dr. Ed de Jong, coordinator