Descrizione del progetto
Un approccio innovativo al pretrattamento della biomassa
L’uso della biomassa per la bioeconomia si concentra principalmente sulle materie prime a base di zucchero o amido, che sono associate a costi elevati per l’ambiente in termini di utilizzo del suolo, energia e consumo di risorse. Tuttavia, le città e le regioni rurali hanno un grande potenziale di flussi di rifiuti organici che, a causa della loro eterogeneità, sono attualmente valorizzati in misura limitata o utilizzati esclusivamente in applicazioni di basso valore. Il progetto CAFIPLA, finanziato dall’UE, libererà il potenziale dei rifiuti biodegradabili attualmente scarsamente utilizzati o non utilizzati come materia prima per la bioeconomia, implementando un nuovo approccio pragmatico al pretrattamento della biomassa. A differenza degli attuali schemi di bioeconomia dominati da zucchero e amido, il progetto CAFIPLA si basa sulla combinazione di una piattaforma per l’acido carbossilico (CAP) e di una piattaforma per il recupero delle fibre (FRP), per valorizzare la biomassa in prodotti biochimici, bioprodotti, mangimi e biomateriali. Come tale, CAFIPLA rappresenta un approccio innovativo per migliorare la sostenibilità e l’efficacia dei costi del pretrattamento.
Obiettivo
The 3-year CAFIPLA project will radically alter the biomass pre-treatment approach for bio-economy applications. Current biomass use comes at a high cost, either in terms of land use (sugar/starch crops) or energy and chemical use (2nd generation biomass). On the other hand, bio-waste is massively produced in urban or rural context but almost not valorised, or solely in low-value applications, in part due to its heterogenous nature.
CAFIPLA tackles both issues by developing an integrated biomass valorisation strategy that combines the carboxylic acid and fibre recovery platform (CAP/FRP). CAFIPLA firstly optimises the separation of the easily biodegradable fraction and recalcitrant biomass, as input for the CAP and FRP, respectively. This allows the implementation of tailored valorisation strategies for both routes, which in turn allows the use of heterogeneous biowaste as input, while still ensuring high overall yields. In the CAP, research will focus on process control strategies to obtain specific spectra of carboxylic acids to feed into bioproduction of microbial protein, PHA or caproic acid biooil. In the FRP, fractionation into different fibre ranges will result in intermediates that can be valorised as packaging material or insulation. A TRL5 pilot will demonstrate the CAFIPLA upscaling potential.
CAFIPLA represents a radically new approach for bio-economy applications by approaching biomass use more pragmatically. This approach, which centres on the integration of two platforms, allows tailor-made solutions. This improves the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of pre-treatment (ambient pressure/temperature, low chemical use,
bio-waste as input material). CAFIPLA will furthermore study the biomass supply chain and the business models for future implementation. The well-balanced consortium, including 7 SMEs on 13 participants, will ensure successful research and impact on the bio-economy well beyond the project consortium and timing.
Campo scientifico
- natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryorganic acids
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementbusiness models
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicsbioeconomy
- engineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybiomaterialsbioplasticspolyhydroxyalkanoates
- agricultural sciencesagricultural biotechnologybiomass
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
- H2020-EU.3.2. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy Main Programme
- H2020-EU.2.1.4. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies – Biotechnology
- H2020-EU.3.2.6. - Bio-based Industries Joint Technology Initiative (BBI-JTI)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinatore
20009 DONOSTIA-SAN SEBASTIAN (GIPUZKOA)
Spagna