US4GREENCHEM aims to design a biorefinery concept for the complete valorization of lignocellulosic biomass that is energy- and cost- efficient and based solely on green technologies. The concept combines mechanical pretreatment of the substrate with the aid of ultrasound to overcome its recalcitrance and disrupt inhibitors with mild CO2 hemicellulose degradation and with the enzymatic recovery of sugars and technologies for the valorization of the byproducts released in the process. Aim of the Project - Develop ultrasound (US) pretreatment that effectively disrupts the lignocellulosic matrix. - Further degrade lignocellulose with CO2 technologies to maximize release of sugars as main target products of the process. - Develop purification and conversion strategies for lignin-based products, in order to maximize the material valorization of the biomass components. - Valorize the solid residues of the product for energy. - Optimize the yield and reduce by 50% the cost of enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose fibers. - Test for fermentability of the sugar fraction - Propose effective integration and upscaling to strategies pilot scale through the experienced industrial partners involved in the project. - Perform a thorough analysis of the outcomes of the proposed combination of technologies to evaluate the potential economic and environmental impacts and compare the proposed concept to existing technologies on the market and being currently developed.

The use of isosorbide (IS), a still a low market volume bio-based chemical but with a high Cumulative Annual Growing Rate of 10.9%, in the manufacturing of intermediate building blocks and high volume polymers, such as polycarbonates, has some drawbacks that could be overcome by using isosorbide bis(methyl carbonate) (IBMC), a barely explored IS secondary building block which is proposed to enhance IS value chain. VIPRISCAR main objectives are: 1) To validate at pilot scale in an industrially relevant environment (TRL 5) a sustainable IBMC production process from IS; 2) To show a proof of principle for the added value IBMC brings to the market by demonstrating the usefulness of polymers derived thereof in three high-volume market sectors: industrial coatings, hot-melt adhesives, and biomedicine (antithrombotic-antimicrobial catheters). Results expected are: 1) A validated highly-efficient IBMC production process (TRL 5) able to be up-scaled and produce, under suitable market conditions, IBMC at a similar price to that of current oil-based monomers used in polycarbonates and polyurethanes; 2) at least 1 IBMC-derived coating for automotive and furniture; 3) at least 1 IBMC-derived hot-melt adhesive; 4) 1 antithrombotic-antimicrobial IBMC-derived catheter. Exploitation encompasses patent licensing, collaborative research for further development to high TRLs and direct production-commercialization (industrial partners). The 3-years project is divided in 4 phases consisting of 8 WPs: 1) IBMC manufacturing process improvement to move from the current TRL of 3 (TEC granted patent) to 4 (WP2); 2) IBMC up-scaling to TRL 5 (WP3); 3) Proof of principle of IBMC applications (WP4-Coatings, WP5-Adhesives, WP6-Catheters); 4) Horizontal issues: Management (WP1); techno-economic analysis, LCA, REACH, health-safety, barriers and standards (WP7); market analysis, business models-financial impacts, IPR and exploitation, risk management, communication and dissemination strategy (WP8).

IRODDI is an ambitious initiative that proposes the development of new greener processes for obtaining new bio-based products with specific properties/functionalities derived from the Free Fatty Acids (FFAs) contained in the deodorizer distillates residual streams of the deodorization process, the last step of the refining process of oils and fats. These newly obtained products will suppose an high added value for FFAs valorization in comparison to their conventional biodiesel application, as they will be used as (1) bio-compatible and eco-friendly surfactants with increased solubility in cold water (by chemical neutralization of FFAs with eco-friendly ILs), (2) biodegradable base-oils that can be directly used in the formulation of bio-lubricants (by enzymatic esterification of FFAs with glycerol) and (3) sustainable polyols for polyurethanes production (by chemical co-valorization of the base-oils obtained in the enzymatic processes of FFAs esterification). Moreover, in order to achieve the maximally possible added value of the deodorization distillates side streams, innovative technologies based on supercritical CO2 (scCO2) and ionic liquids extraction will be developed to isolate minor compounds with a high added-value under softer operational conditions, that will their high quality. One advantage of the IRODDI project is that the technologies developed could be applied individually or in an integrated process to maximize profits of deodorization distillates valorization. The outcomes of the project will be focused on the demonstration of the applicability of these components in different industrial sectors: food-grade detergents (surfactants), bio-lubricants (base-oils), adhesives (polyols), and cosmetics (minor compounds such as squalene).