SOLRESS

Innovative biotech routes for efficient bio-based solvent production promoting a safe and sustainable European industry.

Propose an integrated biorefinery system to replace the chemical origin of some of the most widely used solvents in the industry, such as ethyl acetate, ethyl lactate and butyl acetate with a bio-based origin from second generation sugars from post-consumer coffee grounds and lignocellulosic feedstocks. The aim is to reinforce the integration of bio-based research and innovation throughout industrial bio-based systems. Moreover, in the valorisation process of these feedstocks, not only the cellulose fraction will be valorised, but also the hemicellulose fraction to obtain 2 of the most notorious green solvents of today, 2-MeTHF and GVL, from an additional line dedicated to the processing of furfural.

The challenges will lie in improving downstream purification (DSP) processes and the techniques employed to achieve a technology that is efficient and cost competitive with current chemical production systems for solvents.

At the end of the project, all solvents will be validated in at least 3 of the most relevant applications (productive processes, formulations and recycling technologies) & at least 3 of the sectors with the greatest use of solvents (paints & coatings, cosmetics & materials processing) with the aim of evaluating its performance in comparison with its fossil-based counterparts, but also as a replacement for other dangerous and toxic solvents, such as NMP, CCL4, THF or toluene. 

Thus, the ambition of the SOLRESS project is triple:

• To replace the use of fossil, non-renewable raw materials with specific bio-based feedstocks in the production of some of the most widely used solvents.
• Offer SSbD alternatives to controversial solvents in terms of danger & toxicity (including the ones under the SVHC & SoCs categories).
• To improve the competitiveness of these processes by incorporating new methods & technologies that increase efficiency & sustainability, demonstrating their scalability & industrial applicability. 

ACTIVITIES of the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant

• Scale-up LA fermentation at demo scale to produce kgs. 
• Optimization downstream processing (DSP) cascade.
• Integration of fermentation and purification unit at pilot level. 

PARTNERS

• AIMPLAS – Plastics Technology Centre, ES (Coordinator) 
• Kaffe Bueno, DK 
• Agricultural University of Athens, GR 
• Solmeyea, GR 
• Perseo Biotechnology, ES 
• Celignis, IE 
• Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, BE 
• Ghent University, BE 
• CSIC, ES
• Stora Enso, FI 
• IVL Swedish Environmental Institute, SE 
• Bioeconomy for Change (B4C), FR 
• Galactic, BE 
• Dermopartners, ES 
• Kansai Altan, TR 
• Hydrohm, BE 
• Transfurans Chemicals, BE 

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.