Projects & Partners

This project considers crude sugar oil (CSO^TM) as a fuel for internal combustion engines, specifically those that propel sea going vessels. CSO^TM  is produced from cellulose and a stable blend with fossil marine fuel is created through emulsfication. The SOL project aims to validate the technical and economic viability of this fuel source whilst also achieving a greater than 80% relative greenhouse gas (GHG) emission avoidance during the first ten years of operation compared to the reference scenario. 

Together with our partners Shell and TU/e we developed our breakthrough technology which is known as Goldilocks. This project highlighted the hydroprocessing of our Goldilocks lignin oil to sustainable aviation fuels and other biofuels. Our application was rewarded with 1st place for the innovations of climate-neutral fuels. We are currently still working on our Goldilocks product and advancing it to the next level.

Engineering Business Intelligence (EBI) will create a new digital method to detect how sub-optimal process operation measured within the process data, affects sustainability, quality and economic value of the process to provide input in mitigation and consequently leverage economics with environmental performance. This novel method will provide detailed insight into the effects of process anomalies, both incidental faults and expected drifts in routine operation (e.g. process fouling), on environmental, economic and consistency performance losses.

The EHLCATHOL research will focus on gaining the knowledge for improving greatly the catalytic activity and stability, mechanism of suppressing recondensation steps, solvation of login, selectivity to fuel molecules, product separation, fuel performance enhancement, combustion of the EHL biofuel, as well as reducing the environmental impact of the emission, all needed to develop the novel EHL catalytic solvolysis technology exploiting the energy, around 40% of the lignocellulose feed, stored in EHL with the highest efficiency. The consortium exists of Aalto, TUE, NTNU, LIKAT, EPFL, CNRS and VERTORO.

IDEALFUEL is an EU-funded research and innovation action which aims to develop new production methods for sustainable marine fuels to replace heavy fuel oils (HFOs) in shipping. Due to their fossil origin, the use of heavy fuel oils contributes to global warming and in addition to the emission of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. The goal of the IDEALFUEL project is to create sustainable alternatives by developing new efficient and low-cost methods to produce low-sulphur HFO from wood-based non-food biomass.

The aim of this project CHAPLIN is to evaluate lignin, which is produced in The Netherlands, in asphalt applications and monitor current and novel test roads of selected lignins. CHAPLIN will generate data on the availability of locally and Internationally sourced lignins and study its suitability as binder in hot mixed asphalt. The partners in CHAPLIN cover the full value chain including lignin production, processing of lignin in asphalt, test road construction, and integral knowledge of lignin, bitumen and asphalt.

The objective of the LOADED project is to quantify and optimize these properties, as well as evaluate the compatibility and added value of this bio-based thermoplastic material for use as a performance additive in various commercial polymers, including polyesters, polyolefins and polyamides. 

A switch from fossil-based to renewable raw materials is necessary to reduce the carbon footprint of the Dutch chemical sector. Bioresidues play an important role in this transition as an emerging feedstock for chemicals and materials. The ‘Doing more with lignin’ project sets out to contribute to this goal by setting up a full value chain at pilot scale for lignin-based materials (polyurethane) and chemicals (phenol). Lignin – obtained from biomass – seems to be a very interesting residue as it is a low-cost and abundant renewable raw material.

This project, led by TNO spin-off Relement, will see hemi-cellulose fractions, also one produced by Vertoro, first converted into platform aromatics (2-MF & MPA), and thence processed into a 100% biobased, sustainable coating. This coating will be produced 100kg-scale and ultimately demonstrated on an electric wheel loader vehicle. www.brightcoatings.eu

LIBERATE aims to realize the first pilot scale plant for the so-called ‘lignin-first’ approach, a novel route produce not only cellulose, but also an aromatic oil directly from woody biomass. These fractions can serve as a feedstock for many fuels and chemicals and will be evaluated by interested third parties. Parallel to these R&D activities, andepth techno-economic and sustainability assessment will be made.