Full Carbon Utilization: Conversion of abundant Flemish waste streams into platform chemicals using advanced separation and catalytic technologies
In a nutshell
Through fermentation and catalysis, FUCATIL aims to convert undervalued Flemish waste streams into industrial chemical building blocks in a sustainable way.
Organic waste
Every year, the disposal of old paper and cardboard, corn stover and brewer’s spent grain in Flanders amounts to a combined total of 2.8 million tons of organic waste and a direct emission of nearly 2.3 Mtons of CO2. In fact, they are some of Flanders’ most abundant organic waste streams. They are also underutilized, exhibiting a clear potential to contribute to a more sustainable Flemish industry.
ACN
FUCATIL seeks to curtail emissions from organic waste streams by converting them into industrially relevant chemical building blocks. The specific building block targeted by this project is acrylonitrile (ACN), which is used to produce polymers for the automotive industry and carbon fibres. Currently these polymers are mainly produced from fossil feedstocks, resulting in limited yields and major CO2 emissions.
From waste to ACN
For the conversion of the waste streams into ACN, FUCATIL will use clean technologies. More specifically, it will integrate carbon-efficient fermentation processes with novel separation and catalytic conversion methods.
Impact
By developing sustainable and innovative organic waste-based production systems for ACN, FUCATIL will help Flemish industries step away from fossil-based production processes and significantly reduce their CO2 emissions.
Organic waste
Every year, the disposal of old paper and cardboard, corn stover and brewer’s spent grain in Flanders amounts to a combined total of 2.8 million tons of organic waste and a direct emission of nearly 2.3 Mtons of CO2. In fact, they are some of Flanders’ most abundant organic waste streams. They are also underutilized, exhibiting a clear potential to contribute to a more sustainable Flemish industry.
ACN
FUCATIL seeks to curtail emissions from organic waste streams by converting them into industrially relevant chemical building blocks. The specific building block targeted by this project is acrylonitrile (ACN), which is used to produce polymers for the automotive industry and carbon fibres. Currently these polymers are mainly produced from fossil feedstocks, resulting in limited yields and major CO2 emissions.
From waste to ACN
For the conversion of the waste streams into ACN, FUCATIL will use clean technologies. More specifically, it will integrate carbon-efficient fermentation processes with novel separation and catalytic conversion methods.
Impact
By developing sustainable and innovative organic waste-based production systems for ACN, FUCATIL will help Flemish industries step away from fossil-based production processes and significantly reduce their CO2 emissions.
Project Details
Project type: cSBO in MOT1 Biobased Chemistry
Approved on: 18/11/2020
Start date: 01/03/2021 (expected duration of 36 months)
Budget: €999.818
Approved on: 18/11/2020
Start date: 01/03/2021 (expected duration of 36 months)
Budget: €999.818
Partners
Contact
For more information about this project, please contact Isabelle Monnaie (imonnaie@catalisti.be).