Biopyrania

Biobased Pyrazine monomers from second generation biomass for high performance polymers, copolymers and blends

BIOPYRANIA introduces a groundbreaking approach using a new class of biobased pyrazine monomers. They will be synthesized from glutamic acid and 5-amino levulinic acid that are on their turn obtained via fermentative processes starting from European, second generation woody biomass.

Vegan Leather is a member of CrossRoads2: Sustainable Energy, which is financed by Interreg V Flanders-Netherlands, the cross-border cooperation programme with financial support from the European Regional Development Fund.

The Problem

The European automotive and energy industries are facing the challenge of creating sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel-based products with a low environmental impact and high durability, recyclability, and safety.

A deeper dive into the problem

With the increase of automotive electrification;  lightweight and high-performance materials like BIOPYRANIA polyamides are crucial. Simultaneously, the green energy sector demands clean hydrogen production, and BIOPYRANIA aims to improve anion exchange membranes with pyrazine-based polybenzimidazoles, to meet 22% of the global ’final energy‘ demand. Recycling will boost their circularity profile, while digital methodologies and comprehensive studies will support and accelerate these advancements.

The Solution

BIOPYRANIA offers an innovative solution to these challenges by developing synthesised bio-based pyrazine monomers via fermentative processes from European second-generation woody biomass.

Expanding on previous studies of pyrazine-based polyesters at Maastricht University, BIOPYRANIA shows that incorporating pyrazines into materials results in improved properties. By leveraging these properties, the project aims to develop sustainable polyamide (PA) and polybenzimidazole (PBI) polymers for high-performance applications in automotive electrification and green hydrogen production.

A deeper dive into the solution

Objectives:

  • Develop safe and sustainable processes for the creation of bio-based building blocks starting from second-generation biomass of European origin, addressing challenges in sourcing and production efficiency.
  • Develop new bio-based polymer types – polyamides and polybenzimidazoles – using safe and sustainable processes.
  • Overcome limitations in existing materials with novel pyrazine-based building blocks.
  • Develop polymeric materials and blends tailored to end-user requirements, addressing challenges in stability, conductivity, and durability.
  • Develop and improve safe and sustainable mechanical and hydrothermal recycling processes of bio-based polymer products, aiming to increase the share of recycled material in total plastic production and improve the quality of recycled plastic.
  • Process design towards pilot scale production, starting with converting woody biomass into sugars and fermenting amino acids, focusing on safety and ensuring minimal environmental impact.

 

Impacts:

The BIOPYRANIA project targets significant economic, technical, societal, environmental, and scientific impacts, such as:

  • Making available a broader range of (up to 100%) bio-based products with properties comparable to fossil-based alternatives, meeting market requirements.
  • Establishing at least two new bio-based value chains using sustainable feedstock (2G biomass) for the production of electric vehicles and electrolysers and fuel cells.
  • Validating two new bio-based polymers (PA and PBI) on the demonstrator scale.
  • Improving sustainability, safety, and circularity when compared to fossil-based or bio-based state-of-the-art benchmarks, with an expected replacement of fossil-fuel-based membrane with a bio-based one in a Hydrolite product by 2030.
  • Unlocking new applications currently not covered by bio-based polymers.
  • Showcasing a promising product and process performance for reference applications in view of subsequent upscaling.
  • Maximising the use of regional agricultural resources and decreasing dependence on the import of speciality polymers while also increasing the added value to the European economy.
  • Accelerating hydrogen production to meet the goal of 10 million tonnes of domestic renewable hydrogen production by 2030.
  • Increasing electrolyser production a total annual capacity of 17.5 GW in Europe by 2025.
  • Improving environmental performance across the value chain, exceeding the fossil- and bio-based benchmarks.
  • Enhancing circularity and resource efficiency through the practical application of the circular bioeconomy concept.
  • Reducing the greenhouse gasses emissions of the production process by 50% using 2G biomass exclusively sourced in Europe as a renewable feedstock .
  • Replacing toxic solvents with green alternatives while also achieving zero waste target.
  • Improving the EU’s innovation capacity and knowledge integration by training highly skilled workforce and sharing know-how.
  • Creating approximately 70 new jobs.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101157892

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