Project description
A low-cost, sustainable approach to the FDCA production
Switzerland-based company AVA Biochem is the leading producer of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), a building block for many applications in several industries like chemical, pharmaceutical and food. The company has already found a way to produce HMF from biomass, which is 2 000% cheaper than current production methods. With the help of the EU-funded PairElOx project, AVA Biochem will investigate how to obtain 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a top value-added chemical mostly used for polyethylene furanoate – a polyester ideal for packaging. Researchers aim to develop a continuous, integrated pilot plant for the oxidation of HMF in water with paired electrochemical oxidation to obtain bio-based FDCA. This will be much cheaper than conventional FDCA.
Objective
AVA Biochem is a specialty chemicals company and produces the premium platform chemical 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) from renewable biomass. We are the owner of the world’s 1st industrial plant for production of 5-HMF from biomass. Recently the company has added 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) to its product portfolio. FDCA is considered as a top 12 Top Value-Added Chemicals, which can be used in a wide variety of applications, most significantly in the production of Polyethylene Furanoate (PEF), a polyester ideal for packaging. Most plastic bottles are made from PET (oil-based polyethylene terephthalate) but PEF is a superior polymer. It offers a better barrier for CO2 and O2, is stronger but thinner and has a longer shelf life. PEF is a bio-based substitute for oil-based PET. However, in the market, there is not an industrial commercial process to produce FDCA because of the price. After a long R&D way, we offers an HMF from biomass, which a price more than 2000% lower than currently. Diverse approaches for the oxidation of HMF to FDCA have been developed usually with uncompleted conversion. However, we have developed a continuous, integrated pilot plant for the oxidation of HMF in water with paired electrochemical oxidation to obtain FDCA and its purification. This technology has advantages since the oxidant is substituted by electrons, and the oxidation occurs at both anode and cathode, thus the produced waste and energy are minimized. Applying this concept we obtain FDCA with yields >99% in the lab and a purity of 99.95 wt%. The selectivity is >90% without any dangerous by-products. The process also takes place in water so neither hazardous organic solvents are necessary. It is considered as a green process because an energy savings of 66% and GHG emissions reductions by 35% are realized. Thus, the bio-based FDCA end-product will be offered to the market at much lower price than currently, having a crucial role to play in the PEF bioplastic packaging.
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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences chemical sciences electrochemistry electrolysis
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- agricultural sciences agricultural biotechnology biomass
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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.3.5. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Climate action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument
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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.
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1
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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-SMEInst-2016-2017
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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.
4132 Muttenz
Switzerland
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
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.