B4: Better Biobased Building Blocks
21-04-2015
FISCH’ ARBOREF project valorizes all lignocellulosic biomass to fuel the aromatics market
With the ARBOREF project from FISCH (Flanders Innovation Hub for Sustainable Chemistry), Biorizon aims to create new pathways for the valorization of áll major parts of lignocellulosic biomass (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) towards a set of carefully selected chemical platform molecules and aromatic building blocks by a ‘lignin-first’ biorefinery approach to fuel the aromatics market.
08-04-2015
Lignin could make our roads and roofs ‘greener’
Construction crews may someday use lignin in their asphalt and sealant mixtures to help roads and roofs hold up better under various weather conditions. It also could make them more environmentally friendly.
11-03-2015
Biorizon utilizes municipal waste to develop biobased aromatics
Every year, Dutch households collectively produce over 5 million tons of municipal waste. Biorizon-partner TNO, together with Attero, AEB Amsterdam, Orgaworld and the Dutch Waste Management Association (DWMA) investigates how carbohydrates (sugars) in municipal waste streams can be used as a source for the production of biobased aromatics.
26-02-2015
Bio-aromatics derived from lignin
Bioplastics News has published an article on how Biorizon develops bio-aromatics derived from lignin. "Aromatic compounds are so easily extracted from (fossil-based) naphtha, that bio aromatics seemed to be science fiction. The reason: lignin, the most probable resource, was hard to handle. Green chemistry knowledge advances so fast that research groups like Dutch / Flemish Biorizon (TNO, VITO and Green Chemistry Campus) provide the possibility to commercially produce Bio aromatics from lignin in less than ten years. The countdown towards bio-revolution has started."
08-01-2015
Commercial production of bio aromatics from lignin
Just a few years ago, bio aromatics seemed far away. Aromatic compounds could be so easily extracted from (fossil-based) naphtha, that bio aromatics seemed to be a dream for the future. Primarily because the most probable resource, lignin, is hard to handle. But in this field, as in many branches of green chemistry, knowledge advances so fast that research groups like the Dutch/Flemish Biorizon (TNO, VITO and Green Chemistry Campus) foresee the possibility of commercial production of bio aromatics from lignin in less than ten years’ time.
07-01-2015
Proofs of principle at Biorizon leading to patent applications
A working pilot system and applications for a series of patents: the partners in the Biorizon OP Zuid Project have managed to complete the next stage in the research into obtaining aromatics from biomass to their great satisfaction. What technological challenges did this involve?



