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Bio-based high-purity isoprene through high-yield technology

Objective

Visolis represent the future in cheap sustainable isoprene. About 770,000 metric tonnes of Isoprene are produced annually and commonly used in tyres, but also many other rubber applications including medical equipment, toys, shoe soles, textiles.
Currently the cheapest way to produce Isoprene is via its extraction from the steam by-product of ethylene production from crude oil cracking. However due to rising crude oil prices, ethylene is being produced more and more via natural gas that does not create isoprene as a by-product, risking a shortage of isoprene and a subsequent rise in its price. In addition, crude oil cracking releases a lot of C0₂ into the environment, about 5.4tonnes of CO₂ during the entire lifecycle procedure,
contributing the greenhouse effect.
Visolis have developed a new microbe and supporting process technology to produce bio-based high-purity isoprene, bioprene. The solution uses proprietary technology based on a bioengineered microbe that converts renewable materials (plant sugars) into isoprene with a high yield. Therefore Visolis are able to produce isoprene for less than half its current
market price through a process that emits 4 times less the amount of CO₂. Visolis’ method can be industrially implemented by retrofitting bioethanol manufacturers existing fermentor systems.
Visolis’ bioprocess is at Technology Readiness Level 6 moving towards TRL 9. Phase 1 project aims at assessing the activities needed to standardize the product, scale up to a large pilot implementation and test the market to achieve a sound business model.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-SMEInst-2014-2015

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Coordinator

VISOLIS TECHNOLOGIES LTD
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 50 000,00
Address
72 GREAT SUFFOLK STREET
SE1 0BL London
United Kingdom

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
London Inner London — East Lewisham and Southwark
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 71 429,00

Participants (1)

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