BBI2019.SO2.F2 – Apply technological combinations to valorise all components of biomass feedstock
Background
This is a topic in the 2019 work programme of the Biomass Based Industries Joint Undertaking which was launched in April 2019. The deadline for submitting proposals to this call is September 4th 2019, with the results expected by the end of the year and projects expected to start in 2020.Celignis is an SME that was spun-out from an EU research project (the FP7 advanced biofuels project DIBANET) that was written and coordinated by Celignis's founder Daniel Hayes. It has now been five years since the end of that project and over that time Celignis has grown in size and reputation and now occupies a valuable niche as being the premier analytical provider to clients in the biomass sector. We provide a wide range of compositional analysis services and bioprocessing expertise to a diverse array of customers (including SMEs, multinationals, and universities) looking to utilise biomass feedstocks, residues and wastes for the production of biobased products, biofuels, and energy.
But we have not lost sight of the importance of science and in advancing the start of the art. We were born from pioneering research and we are still passionately committed to playing our part in advancing the bioeconomy. As a result we continue to be highly active in European research projects and are particularly excited by the calls presented in the 2019 BBI work programme.
Celignis is a partner in 2 ongoing BBI projects, BIOrescue and UNRAVEL. These are RIA (Research and Innovation Action) projects. Click here to read more about our involvements in these BBI projects. Celignis is also a partner in an Innovation Action (i.e. Demonstration scale) BBI project that is currently in the Grant Agreement stage and is expected to start in September 2019. In addition to these BBI projects, Celignis is also a partner in the Horizon 2020 Coordinating and Supporting Action project ENABLING. As we are a spin-out company from an EU research project we are well-versed in the preparation of proposals and in the implementation of projects.
Below we present a summary of this topic and indicate how Celignis could be a valuable project partner. Click here to see more details on our relevant expertise as well as summaries of how we can contribute to the other topics in the 2019 BBI work programme.
Contributions Celignis can Make to BBI2019.SO2.F2
- Dedicated analytical partner - A fully-operational flagship biorefinery will require detailed and extensive analysis to be undertaken of the feedstocks, products and everything in between. We have the capacity and experience to handle this throughput and provide accurate data that can aid plant operators in optimising process conditions for maximal yields and/or efficiency. In particular, we have an array of refined and validated analysis procedures for the sampling, preparation, and analysis of feedstock samples and for the products of biomass pretreatment, including liquid process outputs.
- Feedstock seasonal profiling - A biorefinery operating year-round may need to process multiple feedstocks in order to alleviate issues of seasonality of supply. We can collect and analyse samples over the course of a year to get a more detailed understanding of this variability and any trends. This will allow the plant operator to be able to predict how feedstock composition, and the associated process yields and outputs, may respond to changes in supply side parameters.
- Testing of biopolymers - If the technology involves the production of biopolymers then Celignis personnel can undertake a range of analysis methods to investigate their biodegradability. These tests can follow OECD guidelines (e.g. OECD301, 302, 306, 310 or equivalent methods) and determine both ready and inherent biodegradability.
- Residue evaluation - While the call excludes having compost, digestate, biogas, methane, or biofuels as the main products it is likely that there will be solid and liquid residues from the main conversion technologies. We have an array of equipment for analysing these outputs and determining their suitability for combustion or anaerobic digestion.
Specific Challenge of BBI2019.SO2.F2
The chemical industry and other sectors apply combinations of technologies to improve operational effectiveness in relevant situations. These technologies include, for example, physico-chemical, electro-chemical, biochemical and thermo-chemical conversion technologies, combined in an innovative manner.The concept of applying combined technologies, existing as well as newly emerging ones, may serve the bio-based industry sectors well in their pursuit to maximally valorise residual streams and unused or underutilised resources. This new way to convert biomass feedstock will result in the highest value and benefit for all concerned through partnership between the primary sectors and the emerging bio-based sector.
The specific challenge is to effectively apply new and innovative combinations of technologies in bio-based value chains to maximise valorisation of the feedstock.
Scope of BBI2019.SO2.F2
Apply effective, new and innovative combinations of technologies in a large-scale, first-of-its-kind integrated biorefinery converting sustainable biomass streams from existing agro-, food-, aquatic or forest-based operations into added-value products for identified applications.The scope of this topic excludes energy carriers (such as liquid fuels or hydrogen) as the main products. Proposals could also integrate technologies into existing large-scale biorefineries to increase the efficiency and value creation from the feedstock.
This biorefinery should fully integrate feedstock supply and processing technologies to deliver products with targeted functionalities to meet identified market demand at competitive prices. It should demonstrate effective and cost-efficient operation at a commercial level, applying where relevant the cascading use of biomass to maximise resource efficiency.
Proposals should include any processing technology that has been demonstrated in an optimised value chain at TRL 6-7 and should encompass all processing stages leading to intermediate and end products.
Proposals should address all requirements for IA - flagship actions as shown in Table 3 in the Introduction.
The technology readiness level (TRL) at the end of the project should be 8. Proposals should clearly state the starting and end TRLs of the key technology or technologies targeted in the project.