Bioeconomy Science Center
Forschung und Kooperation für nachhaltige Bioökonomie
Bioeconomy Science Center
Forschung und Kooperation für nachhaltige Bioökonomie
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    BOOST FUND Projekt OrCaCel

    OrganoCat plant and pulping combinations for the full valorization of lignocellulose from marginal land grown perennial plants

    Abstract

    The full valorization of lignocellulose residues is a crucial step to obtain ecological and economic figures in future biorefineries. The recently developed OrganoCat process is a promising alternative to deliver non-degraded fractions of the three main carbon components of lignocellulose. The OrCaCel project aims to combine plant science with analytics and chemical engineering to adapt the OrganoCat process for different types of plant biomass that is obtained from perennial plants growing in low-inpit production to minimize environmental footprint.

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    Impact on Bioeconomy
    The final goal of this project is the development of an integrated, novel plant-based value chain from perennial plants to novel chemicals and materials. Utilization of low input biomass production will enable the development of higher value products without competition to food production. Specifically, perennial plants have a high potential to deliver sustainably biomass under these scenarios. Taking these aspects into account to further implement the OrganoCat process with emphasis on its adaptation and optimization for local lignocellulosic residues from perennial plants is strategically important for NRW. Opening new research avenues for NRW industries, with the use of local resources are major objectives of the Bioeconomy Science Center. OrCaCel addresses the BioSC research areas “sustainable plant bio-production and resource stewardship”, “microbial and molecular conversion” and “process technology of sustainable resources” as well as the BioSC cross-cutting topics “systems engineering” and “bioinformatics and knowledge management”.

    Expected results/ project products
    Within the OrCaCel project different biomass fractions will be produced in low input production systems and analyzed, emphasizing a further use with strong industrial application options. Therefore a multi-kilogram scale plant for the OrganoCat process will be established. Data generated by characterizing the OrganoCat product streams will be correlated with those provided by the analysis and characterization of the original biomass, to create new conversion chains for biomass determined for defined chemicals and energy storage.

    Participating Core Groups
    Prof. Dr. Björn Usadel; Dr. Holger Klose    , Institute for Botany and Molecular Genetics (IBMG): Plant Walls, Metabolism & Bioinformatics; RWTH Aachen University
    Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schurr, Dr. Nicolai Jablonowski, Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-2: Plant Sciences, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
    Prof. Dr. Walter Leitner, Dr. Philipp Grande, Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie ITMC, RWTH Aachen University

    Coordinator
    Prof. Dr. Björn Usadel; Institute for Botany and Molecular Genetics (IBMG): Plant Walls, Metabolism & Bioinformatics; RWTH Aachen University

    Contact Person
    Dr. Holger Klose, IBMG
    RWTH Aachen University
    Worringer Weg 3
    52074 Aachen
    Germany
    phone: +49 (0) 241 - 80 25762
    e-mail: h.klose@bio1.rwth-aachen.de

    Project duration
    01.07.2014 – 30.06.2016

    Funding budget
    The total budget of OrCaCel is € 699.614. OrCaCel is part of the NRW-Strategieprojekt BioSC and thus funded by the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Research of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia.