PULP2VALUE
Processing Underutilised Low value sugarbeet Pulp into VALUE added products (PULP2VALUE)
Project details
- Type of project
- Innovation Action - Demonstration
- Project focus
- Bio-based chemicals
- Feedstock origin
- Agri-food waste
- Feedstock type
- Food industry sidestreams
- Project period
- 1 July 2015 - 30 June 2019
- Status
- Completed
- CBE JU Contribution
- € 6 589 18
- Call identifier
- H2020-BBI-PPP-2014-1
Summary
In 2014, Europe produced around 13 million tonnes of sugar beet pulp each year. Most of this pulp finds its way into low-value feed, fertiliser or it is used for creating green fuel gas.
By using multiple extraction techniques, PULP2VALUE extended the high-value products extracted from sugar beet sidestreams, isolating microcellulose fibres (MCF), arabinose, and galacturonic acid.
The project demonstrated an integrated and cost-effective cascading biorefinery system to refine sugar beet pulp and identified applications for approximately 65% of its mass in high-value markets, increasing its current value by as much as 20 to 50 times.
- Demonstrate an integrated and cost-effective cascading biorefinery system to refine sugar beet pulp that allows the conversion of 65% of its dry mass into high-value products: microcellulose fibres, arabinose and galacturonic acid.
- For each of these products, value chains will be developed, such as detergents, personal care, oil & gas, paints & coatings (from MCF), flavour and food products (from arabinose) or cosmetics (from galacturonic acid).
- Create local cross-sectoral value chains involving the sugar, chemical and food industries.
- Demonstration plants were built and are operational for MFC and arabinose.
- Enhanced resource efficiency via diversified use of sugar beet industry sidestreams.
- Demonstrated 9 new value chains to process sugar beet pulp into high-value bio-based products, with a market potential of 350,000 tons and €200 million.
- Introduction of innovative products with low environmental impact, leveraging side streams as feedstock, employing mild and water-based processes, and improving consumable usage efficiency.
- Four patent applications filed.
- Reduction of carbon footprint using MCF and bio-based chemical building blocks instead of fossil-based products such as glass or kevlar.
- Organised two successful external workshops in the project's final year to share PULP2VALUE learnings on biorefinery integration and value chain development, attracting attendees from industry, academia, government, and media.
- Design and engineering of a large-scale biorefinery of sugar beet pulp has started thanks to the results of the project.
- Enhanced the competitiveness of sugar beet to safeguard the income of European farmers.
- Contributed to rural development in sugar beet growing areas by connecting the sugar beet processing industry with various industries, including the chemical and food industry.
- Multiple high-value products are being developed based on sugar beet pulp with promising business cases.
- Generated numerous jobs (both blue and white collar) directly and indirectly in rural areas of the Netherlands and Poland, fostering cross-sector collaborations.
Consortium map
Project coordination
- KONINKLIJKE COOPERATIE COSUN UA Breda, Netherlands
Consortium
- REFRESCO GERBER UK LIMITED BRIDGWATER, United Kingdom
- NOVA-INSTITUT FUR POLITISCHE UND OKOLOGISCHE INNOVATION GMBH Hurth, Germany
- ORINEO BVBA Erps-Kwerps, Belgium
- BIO BASE EUROPE PILOT PLANT VZW Desteldonk Gent, Belgium
- COSUN BEET COMPANY - BIOBASED EXPERTS BV DINTELOORD, Netherlands
- WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY Wageningen, Netherlands
- STICHTING WAGENINGEN RESEARCH Wageningen, Netherlands
