Upgrading residual streams from agro-industrial value chain to carboxylic platform chemicals
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB - Agrifood and Bioscience, Göteborg |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 498 352 |
| Project duration | November 2018 - May 2019 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Circular and biobased economy |
Purpose and goal
One goal of the project was to generate knowledge on how a flexible, circular biorefinery can be realized. In this feasibility study we concluded that Skåne is a promising because of its rich agriculture and for the presence of several chemical producers and users within a small area. There are good possibilities regarding raw material availability and demand for products. There are however some challenges regarding environmental and economic performances that need to be considered during the development of biorefineries.
Expected results and effects
An inventory of raw materials, i.e. agricultural residues, available within a 100 km radius from the sugar factory in Örtofta was done. The region could potentially supply a commercial scale biorefinery with feedstock but more research about their functionality is needed. Carbon footprints were calculated for lactic acid and succinic acid produced from sugarbeet pulp. The process is not yet optimized, thus carbon footprints were higher than for corresponding products such as commercial PLA.
Planned approach and implementation
The project was organized in in four work packages dedicated to design of a biorefinery concept, raw material potential, economic and sustainability assessment and project management. Two workshops were organized, one internal for the project group and one external to which stakeholders were invited. The project group was well balances and the project led to further discussions about future collaboration between project partners and external companies taking part in the workshop.