WoodVALOR adopts a circular approach by using contaminated wood as a sustainable feedstock to produce paints, coatings, and biochar, showcasing innovative waste valorization. The process converts low-value material into high-performance products while contributing to environmental restoration. The project compares advanced decontamination and fractionation methods with traditional pulping processes. Acrylic acid is produced from the wood's cellulose fraction through the lactic acid route, while fatty acids are obtained via yeast fermentation, ensuring resource efficiency and aligning with circular economy principles. The hemicellulose fraction is transformed into bio-based binders for coatings, reducing reliance on petroleum-derived alternatives. These binders are made more hydrophobic and durable by grafting acrylic acid and fatty acids onto the hemicellulose, enhancing water resistance and longevity. Lignin, often considered a byproduct, is repurposed to produce phenolics, which are grafted onto hemicellulose to further improve the coatings' properties. These coatings are then applied to wood surfaces, creating a closed-loop system where contaminated wood becomes protective material for other wood products. Biochar, produced from process residues, serves two functions. It is used for bioremediation of contaminated soils and in mineral recovery from contaminated wood. The recovered minerals can be reintegrated into coatings, closing another resource loop. By converting contaminated wood into materials that protect wood surfaces and treat soils, WoodVALOR highlights circularity. This approach minimizes waste, promotes resource recovery, and supports environmental health and material efficiency, contributing to a more sustainable EU industry and addressing the major challenges associated with contaminated wood waste.

PuriFire is pioneering a transformative technology in the sustainable fuel industry. PuriFire’s unique reactor system streamlines the production of green H2, and biogenic CO2 generated in-situ from waste water and carbon feedstocks. The outputs are then converted in a continuous, downstream process to create methanol or other sustainable aviation fuel. The core of the technology is a continuous hydrothermal gasification process, which applies high pressures and temperatures to flexibly operate under various conditions and produce green H2, biogenic CO2 and renewable fuels, including bio-methanol. This method is particularly efficient with wet feedstocks, such as digestate and sewage sludge, which would otherwise require energy-intensive drying. PuriFire’s approach eliminates the need for costly electrolysers and carbon capture systems, reducing CAPEX by 50% compared to similar technologies, while innovative heat recycling cuts energy consumption by up to 70%. PuriFire’s system stands out for its simplicity and adaptability, incorporating a plug flow reactor that maintains consistent pressure and volume, preventing issues like clogging and unwanted by-products that plague other systems. This, combined with its ability to utilize wet, low-cost feedstocks and industrial waste heat, positions the technology as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional methods. Through the EIC Accelerator, PuriFire aims to scale its technology to a commercial demonstration plant producing 10,000+ tons of methanol annually by 2026, having already multiple patents and established key partnerships. Their technology promises to reduce the cost of green methanol by up to 40%, while offering significant environmental benefits, including a 95% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to fossil-based methanol. By supporting the circular economy and reducing dependency on fossil fuels, PuriFire’s innovation contributes to broader environmental and economic goals.