BioSPRINT

Summary

Lignocellulose is the single most widely available type of biomass in the world. It is an important sustainable source of raw materials for a range of bio-based applications, including bio-based chemicals and advanced biofuels. In Europe, there is a technical potential of 1,372 million tonnes of lignocellulosic biomass available, which – even with a doubling of the current usage – could support sustainable use, but only until 2030. Therefore, it is important that non-food biomass – including lignocellulosic biomass – are used efficiently to ensure ongoing supply into the future.

To improve usage to around 25 % – almost double the current level – will demand substantial improvements in usage and processing efficiency. However, current methods often produce relatively high concentrations of impurities and inhibitors, which can make conversion challenging and require numerous, resource-intensive downstream purification steps, thus reducing the overall biorefinery yield and/or leading to poor-quality products. It also increases production complexity and energy costs and greater demands on ensuring process safety.

The BioSPRINT project aims to valorise hemicelluloses, a mixture of polysaccharides that can be extracted, fractionated and converted for use in a range of applications. The project pursues a zero-waste approach, applying an integrated biorefinery concept that maximises conversion of lignocellulosic biomass feedstock and its by-products, sidestreams and residual streams into higher added-value products. The driving ambition is to valorise the previously-discarded or costly sidestreams and thus close the loop on maximising resource potential.