Advanced Zeolite Catalysis for Sustainable Biorefinery to Produce Value-added Chemicals

Project Information

ZEOBIOCHEM

Grant agreement ID: 872102

DOI

10.3030/872102

Project closed

EC signature date 26 November 2019

Start date 1 December 2019

End date 30 September 2025

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 1 205 200,00

EU contribution

€ 874 000,00

Coordinated by

THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ZEOBIOCHEM (Advanced Zeolite Catalysis for Sustainable Biorefinery to Produce Value-added Chemicals)

Reporting period: 2023-04-01 to 2025-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The ZEOBIOCHEM project responds to one of today’s most pressing global challenges: climate change and the urgent need to transition from fossil fuels to sustainable, low-carbon alternatives. Modern society still relies heavily on petroleum to produce fuels and everyday chemicals. This dependence contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation. To reach the European Union’s ambition of climate neutrality by 2050, new catalytic materials and methods must be developed to transform renewable resources, such as agricultural residues, forestry by-products and other types of non-food biomass, into valuable materials and clean energy.
Replacing fossil-based chemical production with renewable, bio-based processes will help reduce Europe’s carbon footprint, strengthen energy security and create new sustainable industries. In particular, biorefineries, processes that convert biomass into fuels, solvents and other useful chemicals, are key enablers of a circular bio-economy. However, many of today’s biorefinery technologies are still inefficient, costly or environmentally demanding. Developing greener and more efficient catalytic materials for these processes is essential to make bio-based production commercially viable and environmentally sound.
This ZEOBIOCHEM RISE project brings together universities and companies from Europe and Asia to create a new generation of catalysts based on zeolites, that is, microporous materials widely used in the petrochemical industry. The project aimed to design and produce advanced, hierarchical zeolites specially tailored for transforming biomass-derived feedstocks into high-value fuels and chemicals.
The project focused on:
1. Developing innovative zeolite materials with controlled structure and chemical functionality to improve reaction efficiency and selectivity;
2. Applying these catalysts to key biorefinery processes, such as upgrading bio-oils, producing green solvents like ethyl lactate, and converting plant-based sugars into renewable chemical building blocks;
3. Evaluating the environmental and economic benefits of these new methods through life-cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA);
4. Fostering international collaboration, researcher training and knowledge exchange between Europe, China, Japan and Thailand.
This ZEOBIOCHEM RISE project assembles an international multidisciplinary consortium with complementary expertise in zeolite chemistry, heterogeneous catalysis, catalytic reaction engineering, biomass conversion and life cycle assessment (LCA), and aims at developing novel functionalised hierarchical zeolites (including the new methods for making them) and highly efficient catalysis for application in biorefineries.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During its implementation (December 2019 – September 2025), the ZEOBIOCHEM project achieved outstanding progress across all technical, training, and dissemination areas. All 12 milestones and planned deliverables were successfully completed, fully meeting the project’s objectives.The research focused on developing advanced hierarchical zeolite catalysts—highly porous materials designed to accelerate chemical reactions efficiently and selectively for transforming renewable biomass into fuels and value-added chemicals. Novel synthesis and modification methods were established to tailor catalyst structure, acidity, and porosity for optimal biorefinery performance.
Key achievements by the project included:
1. Creation of innovative zeolites via microwave modification and surfactant-templating techniques, enhancing catalyst activity and stability;
2. Development of structured zeolite catalysts for multi-phase and vapour-phase biorefining, enabling efficient conversion of bio-oils and waste biomass;
3. Implementation of intensified catalytic processes, including catalytic distillation and microwave-assisted upgrading of bio-derived sugars, reducing energy use and waste generation;
4. Completion of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) to evaluate environmental impacts and economic feasibility of the developed materials and processes.
The consortium engaged 43 researchers from leading European and Asian institutions, conducting over 154 person-months of research secondments that fostered extensive knowledge exchange and strengthened long-term scientific partnerships. Dissemination and outreach were major project strengths. More than 80 peer-reviewed publications—mostly under Open Access—and numerous conference presentations, workshops, and training events ensured broad visibility and community engagement. By its conclusion, ZEOBIOCHEM had demonstrated that hierarchical zeolites can substantially enhance the efficiency and sustainability of biomass conversion. The project delivered tangible technological innovations, deepened international collaboration, and trained a new generation of researchers driving progress toward a sustainable, low-carbon bio-economy.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Since its launch, the ZEOBIOCHEM project has achieved outstanding scientific progress and fostered strong international collaboration across Europe and Asia. The consortium has produced over 80 peer-reviewed publications—many in top journals such as Nature Communications, J. Am. Chem. Soc., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., and Advanced Materials—alongside 30+ conference presentations, three thematic workshops, and one international conference, highlighting its substantial academic impact. The project has advanced the frontiers of catalysis and materials science by developing novel hierarchical zeolite materials and innovative catalytic processes that go well beyond the current state of the art. These breakthroughs improve efficiency, selectivity, and sustainability in converting renewable biomass into valuable fuels and chemicals. Through 43 participating researchers and extensive international secondments, ZEOBIOCHEM has strengthened global expertise in sustainable catalysis and biorefining. These exchanges enhanced collaboration, technical competence, and career development across partner institutions. The project’s outcomes are expected to lead to new patents, continued joint research, and industrial uptake of the most promising catalytic technologies, reinforcing Europe’s leadership in green chemical manufacturing. By enabling cleaner catalytic routes for renewable resources, ZEOBIOCHEM contributes directly to the EU Green Deal and the transition to a climate-neutral economy. Its innovations help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance resource efficiency, and support the growth of a circular bio-economy. Beyond environmental benefits, the project fosters innovation-driven economic growth, new industrial opportunities, and green employment, while its open-access publications and outreach activities raise public awareness of sustainable science and engineering.

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