BIOPYRANIA

Biobased pyrazine monomers from 2nd generation biomass for high performance:
Polymers, Copolymers and Blends.

The Sustainable Product Initiative sets a challenge for European industries to create sustainable products, considering environmental impact, durability, recyclability, and safety. BIOPYRANIA introduces a ground-breaking approach using a new class of biobased pyrazine monomers. They will be synthesized from amino acids that are on their turn obtained via fermentative processes starting from European, second generation woody biomass. 
 
As already proven by the recent work on pyrazine based polyesters in the labs of Maastricht University, the incorporation of pyrazines gives unprecedented properties, including the potential for added chemical functionality and improved material characteristics through non-traditional hydrogen bonding. 
 
BIOPYRANIA will use this knowledge to develop new classes of pyrazine based polymers, copolymers, and blends in a safe and sustainable way from lab to pilot scale. These materials have the potential to revolutionize high-performance applications, with a focus on the automotive and green hydrogen sectors. With the electrification of the automotive industry, lightweight, high-performance materials are more and more crucial, and BIOPYRANIA polymers are promising candidates. In the green energy market, there is a growing demand for clean hydrogen production. Electrolyzers and fuel cells play a key role in this process, and BIOPYRANIA aims to enhance the performance and sustainability of anion exchange membranes that are used therein with pyrazine based polymers. Recycling of these materials will enhance their circularity profile. 
 
The developments will be supported and accelerated by digital methodologies, environmental, toxicological, techno-economic and social impact studies. The BIOPYRANIA consortium is a robust partnership of 2 universities, 2 RTOs, 7 SMEs, and 2 industrial partners. 

ACTIVITIES of the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant

• Scale-up of fermentative production and downstream processing (DSP) of glutamic acid and 5-amino levulinic acid from second generation woody sugars, to 150 L scale 
• Process optimization of fermentation and DSP

PARTNERS

• Maastricht University, NL (Coordinator)
• B4Plastics, NL 
• Tecnalia, ES 
• Arkema, FR 
• Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, BE 
• Unversität des Saarlandes, DE
• Hydrolite, ISR 
• Fiat Research Center, IT 
• ReSolved Technologies, NL 
• Fibenol, EE 
• Innovation in Research and Engineering Solutions, BE
• BioG3D, GR 
• ENCO, IT 

SUPPORTED by

The project is supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking and its members.

Disclaimer Art 17.3. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CBE JU. Neither the European Union, nor CBE JU can be held responsible for them.