Objective
Zelcor project aims at demonstrating the feasibility of transforming lignocellulose biorefinery recalcitrant side streams into high added-value biobased products, including fine chemicals. Its concept is to combine chemical and enzymatic catalysis with insects-based biological conversion, within a biorefinery integrated approach. The project is conceived to avoid waste production by recycling waste bio-based products and improve the sustainability of existing second generation biorefineries. It addresses three types of recalcitrant raw materials: lignocellulosic residues from ethanol production, lignins dissolved during pulping process and lignin-like humins formed by sugars conversion. Enzymatic and process engineering will be implemented to design efficient conversion routes and permit technological breakthroughs. A transversal platform for the characterisation of biomolecules will be settled to identify bio-products of commercial interest among lignins and humins multifunctional nanoparticles, phenolic antioxidants, insects-based chitosans and aromatic chemical intermediates. Thanks to this platform, Zelcor will enhance knowledge of the structure-function relationships and the mechanisms involved in recalcitrant raw materials catalytic depolymerisation and bioconversion. Demonstration of the approach feasibility will be performed by process scaling-up, formulation of end-product prototypes and value chain sustainability and safety assessment. The presence of industrial partners all along the value chains, from lignocellulosic feedstock to end products, will facilitate demonstration activities and technological transfers. With this strong industry drive, Zelcor will lead to large scale production of biomolecules for cosmetics, packaging and chemical industry, as well as novel biocatalysts. Zelcor is a 6.7M€ collaborative project, 49% of which for SMEs (43% EC grant). It gathers 18 organisations from 8 countries, including 6 academia, 8 SMEs, and 3 corporations.
Fields of science
- agricultural sciencesagricultural biotechnologybiomass
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriology
- social sciencesother social sciencessocial sciences interdisciplinarysustainable development
- engineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybioprocessing technologiesbiocatalysis
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processesrecycling
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsenzymes
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesfood and beveragesfood packaging
Call for proposal
H2020-BBI-PPP-2015-2-1
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
BBI-RIA - Bio-based Industries Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
75007 Paris Cedex 07
France
Participants (16)
02150 Espoo
Participation ended
BN6 8RP Hassocks
80142 Napoli
1014 BV Amsterdam
SO40 4BL Southampton
Participation ended
75015 Paris
60550 Verneuil En Halatte
50354 Huerth
1024 Ecublens Vd
6135 LD Sittard
6708 PB Wageningen
02390 Origny Sainte-benoite
94010 Creteil
CV4 8UW Coventry
Participation ended
44227 Dortmund
91058 Evry