Project Title
Novel integrated biorefinery concepts for a carbon neutral bio-economy. NIBCON is the acronym.
Project Goal
Identifying and converting sustainable and suitable second generation biomass feedstock via biorefining technologies (i.e., integrated conversion and downstream processing) based on catalytic fractionation/depolymerisation into primary aromatic building blocks.
Project Type and Duration
Project type: cSBO sprint in Moonshot1 Bio-Based Chemistry
Approved on: 12/12/2019
Start date: 01/01/2020
Duration: 18 + 3 months (extended and finished)
Budget: €1.499.959
Approved on: 12/12/2019
Start date: 01/01/2020
Duration: 18 + 3 months (extended and finished)
Budget: €1.499.959
Opportunities for Use
The primary aromatic building blocks can be used to replace non-renewable resources. Various applications are possible.
Partners
Publications
Low molecular weight and highly functional RCF lignin products as a full bisphenol a replacer in bio-based epoxy resinsK. Van Aelst, E. Van Sinay, T. Vangeel, Y. Zhang, T. Renders, S. Van den Bosch, J. Van Aelst and B. F. Sels
Chem. Commun., 2021 – DOI: 10.1039/D1CC02263F
Herein, we present a full lignocellulose-to-chemicals valorization chain, wherein low molecular weight and highly functional lignin oligomers, obtained from reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) of pine wood, were used to fully replace bisphenol A (BPA) for synthesizing bio-based epoxy resins.
The full publication can be accessed via:
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/cc/d1cc02263f/unauth#!divAbstract
Chem. Commun., 2021 – DOI: 10.1039/D1CC02263F
Herein, we present a full lignocellulose-to-chemicals valorization chain, wherein low molecular weight and highly functional lignin oligomers, obtained from reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) of pine wood, were used to fully replace bisphenol A (BPA) for synthesizing bio-based epoxy resins.
The full publication can be accessed via:
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/cc/d1cc02263f/unauth#!divAbstract
Reductive catalytic fractionation of pine wood: elucidating and quantifying the molecular structures in the lignin oil
K. Van Aelst, E. Van Sinay, T. Vangeel, E. Cooreman, G. Van den Bossche, T. Renders, J. Van Aelst, S. Van den Bosch and B. F. Sels
Chemical Science, 2020 – DOI: 10.1039/D0SC04182C
In-depth structural analysis of biorefined lignin is imperative to understand its physicochemical properties, essential for its efficient valorization to renewable materials and chemicals. Up to now, research on Reductive Catalytic Fractionation (RCF) of lignocellulose biomass, an emerging biorefinery technology, has strongly focused on the formation, separation and quantitative analysis of the abundant lignin-derived phenolic monomers. However, detailed structural information on the linkages in RCF lignin oligomers, constituting up to 50 wt% of RCF lignin, and their quantification, is currently lacking. This study discloses new detailed insights into the pine wood RCF lignin oil’s molecular structure through the combination of fractionation and systematic analysis, resulting in the first assignment of the major RCF-derived structural units in the 1H–13C HSQC NMR spectrum of the RCF oligomers. Specifically, β-5 γ-OH, β-5 ethyl, β-1 γ-OH, β-1 ethyl, β-β 2x γ-OH, β-β THF, and 5-5 inter-unit linkages were assigned unambiguously, resulting in the quantification of over 80% of the lignin inter-unit linkages and end-units. Detailed inspection of the native lignin inter-unit linkages and their conversion reveals the occurring hydrogenolysis chemistry and the unambiguous proof of absence of lignin fragment condensation during proper RCF processing. Overall, the study offers an advanced analytical toolbox for future RCF lignin conversion and lignin structural analysis research, and valuable insights for lignin oil valorization purposes.
The full publication can be accessed for free via:
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2020/sc/d0sc04182c#!divAbstract
Chemical Science, 2020 – DOI: 10.1039/D0SC04182C
In-depth structural analysis of biorefined lignin is imperative to understand its physicochemical properties, essential for its efficient valorization to renewable materials and chemicals. Up to now, research on Reductive Catalytic Fractionation (RCF) of lignocellulose biomass, an emerging biorefinery technology, has strongly focused on the formation, separation and quantitative analysis of the abundant lignin-derived phenolic monomers. However, detailed structural information on the linkages in RCF lignin oligomers, constituting up to 50 wt% of RCF lignin, and their quantification, is currently lacking. This study discloses new detailed insights into the pine wood RCF lignin oil’s molecular structure through the combination of fractionation and systematic analysis, resulting in the first assignment of the major RCF-derived structural units in the 1H–13C HSQC NMR spectrum of the RCF oligomers. Specifically, β-5 γ-OH, β-5 ethyl, β-1 γ-OH, β-1 ethyl, β-β 2x γ-OH, β-β THF, and 5-5 inter-unit linkages were assigned unambiguously, resulting in the quantification of over 80% of the lignin inter-unit linkages and end-units. Detailed inspection of the native lignin inter-unit linkages and their conversion reveals the occurring hydrogenolysis chemistry and the unambiguous proof of absence of lignin fragment condensation during proper RCF processing. Overall, the study offers an advanced analytical toolbox for future RCF lignin conversion and lignin structural analysis research, and valuable insights for lignin oil valorization purposes.
The full publication can be accessed for free via:
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2020/sc/d0sc04182c#!divAbstract