The European Project “ZEro waste Ligno-CellulOsic bio-Refineries” (ZELCOR), of which Ineris is a partner, is ending. The project was launched in 2016, has been coordinated by INRAE Versailles, and is based on the expertise of 18 partners from seven countries. Work carried out in this way has made it possible to recover “recalcitrant” bio-sourced waste materials (such as lignins and humins) in chemical products and high added value materials. Ineris is piloting work linked to durability aspects, risk management and environmental impact management.
The closing meeting was scheduled for 24 February, and was devoted to assessing the research carried out and the prospects for extending it. Our experts presented the key facts and results, specifically those relating to risk management and environmental impact management.
Lignins, humins and lignocellulolosic residues are what are referred to as “recalcitrant” bio-residues, from the biomass pre-treatment phases. These are high molecular weight polymers that we seek to transform using a range of processes, by combining chemical and enzyme catalysis with biological conversion (introducing insects and microbes) as part of an integrated bio-refining process. The recovery of these residues is principally aimed at chemical products and high added value materials (such as plastics and cosmetics etc.), excluding energy vectors.
A platform is in place to identify commercially relevant bio-products and to improve our understanding of these products’ structure/function relationships, and the mechanisms involved in their processing.
