Discover the Catalisti Whitepaper:
Towards a Sustainable Value Chain of Lignin-Based Bio-Aromatics in Flanders
Publication date: 30 June 2022
Catalisti whitepapers
Current Calls
Current Projects
ICON
O&O
SBO
LA
Completed Projects
Collective Research Network (CORNET) (completed)
ICON (completed):
ATOL AMBER BIOCAPPS Biovertol 1 Biovertol 2 Prometheus
Advanced Tailored Oligosaccharides
Glutamic Acid-Based Building Blocks for Application in Paints and Inks
Biogenic Catalysts for Air Purification and Sustainable Materials
Towards Sustainable Synthesis of Branched-Chain Higher Alcohols from Biobased Feedstocks
Towards Sustainable Synthesis of Branched-Chain Higher Alcohols from Biobased Feedstock
Assessment of Microbial Protein Sources for Food and Feed
Bio Wax
Production of Economically Viable Alternatives to Petroleum-Based Wax and Olefins
Carboleum 1
Catalytic Conversion of Carbohydrate Sidestreams to Develop New, Innovative Chemical Applications
Carboleum 2
Catalytic Conversion of Carbohydrate Sidestreams to Develop New, Innovative Chemical Applications
CHITINSECT
Production and Application of Chitosan-Based on Insect Biomass at Lab and Pilot Scale
SweetEst
Innovative Production and Use of Sugar Esters
SPICY
Sugar-Based Chemicals and Polymers through Innovative Chemocatalysis and Engineered Yeast
EnzyMase 1
Enzymes for Added Sustainability and Efficiency
MAIA
Manufacturing of Advanced & Innovative Bio-Aromatics
OMEGA-Extract
From Micro Algae to High-Value Omega-3-Rich Algae Oils
SBO (completed):
INTERREG (completed):
HS (completed):
O&O (completed):
VIS (completed):

Biobased Value Chains – Program Details
What?
For the conversion of such biobased resources to chemical products, different technologies can be used such as chemical catalysis, enzymatic catalysis and fermentation as the more established processes to convert biobased resources. These conversion technologies are used in combination with upstream and downstream technologies like extraction, separation and/or polymerisation.
Biobased chemicals can be platform molecules that have the potential to become the core of new biobased value chains, but also specialty chemicals that are developed from an application perspective. While developing biobased chemicals, we focus on the functionality they can bring in their application. We do not specifically focus on biodegradability, although this can be a beneficial functionality for some products in some applications.
Why?
In addition, the use of biobased resources as feedstock for chemical products has the potential to reduce the overall environmental impact of chemical value chains. When comparing CO2 emissions over the life cycle of biobased products with their fossil-based counterparts, biobased products have the advantage of a negative contribution in the growth phase of the biomass, as the carbon was captured through photosynthesis in the biomass. Also, specific processes used to convert biomass like enzymatic catalysis and fermentation have the potential to significantly reduce the CO2 emissions of the production process.
Goals
- contribute to decreasing the chemical industry’s dependency of on fossil resources
- deliver new functionalities in existing or new applications
- connect non-traditional players
- help to decrease the overall environmental impact of chemical value chains
- help our member companies to acquire interesting IP positions