Objective
UNRAVEL aims to develop advanced pre-treatment, separation and conversion technologies for complex lignocellulosic biomass to produce usable lignin fragments, and monomeric sugars from the cellulose and hemicellulose fraction suitable for biochemical conversions. The technologies will be scaled up from lab (TRL 3) to pilot plant (TRL 5). UNRAVEL will achieve a breakthrough in the valorisation of lignocellulosic biomass by:
• Utilizing complex lignocellulosic biomass sources such as forest residues, bark, straw, and nut shells
• Recovering valuable components by feedstock pre-extraction prior to fractionation
• Achieving at least 80% lignin yield, 90% glucan recovery from the cellulose and 80% yield of monomeric hemicellulose sugars by utilizing the TNO FABIOLA™ low temperature, energy-efficient acetone based fractionation process
• Purifying the hemicellulose hydrolysate and qualifying it for fermentation into chemical building blocks
• Developing lignin depolymerisation technologies
• Establishing high-value lignin applications through the production of lignin-based PUR & PIR foams and lignin-based additives in bitumen for roofing applications
• Demonstrating a 30% OPEX and 15 % carbon footprint reduction of the pre-treatment
UNRAVEL will develop an integrated cross-sector value chain by bringing together specialists with expertise on feedstock composition, chemical pulping and pre-treatment, enzymes production, polymer chemistry, separation and reactor engineering, techno-economic and sustainability assessments and knowledge dissemination and exploitation and communication. The active involvement of three SME's and two large enterprises, active in wood pulping and the production of lignin-based building materials, strengthens a market-driven approach and commercial exploitation and implementation of the results generated in the UNRAVEL project.
Fields of science
- natural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciences
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsenzymes
- agricultural sciencesagricultural biotechnologybiomass
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesforestry
- engineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybioprocessing technologiesfermentation
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
2595 DA Den Haag
Netherlands
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Participants (12)
V94 Limerick
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
20780 Kaarina
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
67100 Strasbourg
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Participation ended
1755 LE Petten
69120 Heidelberg
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
75794 Paris
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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.
67081 Strasbourg
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3620 Lanaken
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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.
8101 Gratkorn
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80539 Munchen
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80686 Munchen
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