ELLIPSE

Efficient and novel waste streams co-processing to obtain biobased solutions for packaging and agricultural sectors 

The ELLIPSE project will address the valorisation of two heterogeneous waste streams generated in significant amounts in Europe, slaughterhouse waste (bellygrass) and paper and pulp sludge, to produce cost-efficient PHAs for agricultural and packaging sectors, by the co-processing with other organic waste streams such as glycerol from the biodiesel industry and sludge from the dairy industry. The integration of these waste streams as biorefinery feedstocks will allow reducing the volumes of waste destined to landfill or anaerobic digestion, opening new avenues for platform chemicals and bioplastics production while creating additional revenue for the related industries generating the waste, with added advantages of water recycling, decreased soil degradation, groundwater pollution and methane emissions. 

The selected ELLIPSE feedstocks are locally available and renewable leading to close to 100% renewably sourced personal care packaging and agricultural products. ELLIPSE project will be able to cope with at least 100 tonnes of slaughterhouse waste and 20 tons of wastewater sludge derived from pulp and paper industry. The ELLIPSE technology will impact in the European bioeconomy by valorising 20,000 tons of rumen content waste and 50,000 tons of paper sludge per year. 

ELLIPSE has a multi-actor approach including all the relevant actors in the biobased system from the waste stream production and management to technology developers and industrial actors, both SMEs and bigger companies, plus the expertise for the market development perspective. ELLIPSE will also contribute to the end-user and consumer’s perspective so that all inputs from the relevant actors are taken into account.

DOWNLOAD the ELLIPSE Press Release dd 18 May 2023

ACTIVITIES of the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant

• Purify the VFA (Volatile Fatty Acid) streamscoming from the acidogenic fermentation of the organic waste streams. 
• Scale-up the VFA to PHA fermentation that was optimised by partner Biotrend to 1500L.   
• Optimisation and scale-up of the PHA purification process. 

PARTNERS

• AIMPLAS, ES (Coordinator)  
• Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, BE 
• BIOTREND, PT
• Novamont, IT
• Bio-Mi, HR
• CARTIF, ES
• Zero-E, NL  
• Universita Degli Studi Di Verona, IT
• Helian Polymers, NL
• Enco SRL, IT
• BEST, AT
• Green Generation Ireland, IE
• Laakirchen Papier, AT

SUPPORTED by

This project has received funding from the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (JU) under the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101112581. The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme and the Bio-based Industries Consortium.