Project description
An innovative biomass pretreatment approach
Biomass-usage for the bioeconomy is mainly focused on raw materials based on sugar or starch, which are associated with high costs for the environment in terms of land use, energy and resource consumption. However, cities and rural regions hold great potential of biowaste streams which, due to their heterogeneity, are currently valorised to a limited extent or used exclusively in low-value applications. The EU-funded CAFIPLA project will unlock the potential of currently un(der)used biowaste as feedstock for the bioeconomy, by implementing a new pragmatic approach to biomass pre-treatment. As opposed to current sugar/starch-dominated bio-economy schemes, the CAFIPLA project relies on the combination of a Carboxylic Acid Platform (CAP) and Fibre Recovery Platform (FRP), to valorise biomass into biochemicals, bioproducts, feed and biomaterials. As such, CAFIPLA presents an innovative approach to improving the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of pre-treatment.
Objective
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.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry organic acids
- social sciences economics and business business and management business models
- social sciences economics and business economics bioeconomy
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology biomaterials bioplastics polyhydroxyalkanoates
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.3.2. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.2.1.4. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies – Biotechnology
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H2020-EU.3.2.6. - Bio-based Industries Joint Technology Initiative (BBI-JTI)
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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.
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.
RIA - Research and Innovation action
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-BBI-JTI-2019
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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.
20009 DONOSTIA/SAN SEBASTIAN
Spain
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.