Projects
Sustainable Feedstocks for the Chemical Industry (SUSCI, BMWE 2025–2028): In the transition from a linear to a circular economy—and thus the shift toward using sustainable feedstocks instead of fossil-based ones—reconfiguring the range of feedstocks used by the chemical industry poses a major technological challenge. In particular, the steam cracker—which produces key intermediates such as ethylene, propylene, and aromatics—offers significant leverage. Within the scope of this project, the use of resources derived from plastic waste and low-value biomass will serve as key starting points. SUSCI involves the iterative optimization of the steps of pyrolysis, purification/conditioning/upgrading, and steam cracking with a view to creating a beneficial overall value chain.
Renewable Fuels from Green Refineries of the Future (REF4FU, BMDV 2022–2026); The target of this project, coordinated by the IKFT, is to develop, validate, and evaluate sustainable refinery concepts capable of meeting future demand for renewable liquid fuels. Using renewable methanol, Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbons, and pyrolysis oils, the project will produce, test, and evaluate the fuels currently in use by fleets and those required in the foreseeable future using scalable technologies. In addition, the project will assess these fuels within the context of the regulatory framework. Pyrolysis oils will primarily be processed into marine fuels.
BLACK LIQUOR to FUELS (EU Horizon 2020, 2020–2024); Black liquor is a byproduct of the chemical pulp industry that is converted into marine and aviation fuels by HTL as part of this project coordinated by the University of Tampere. The separation of salts used in pulp production and catalytic processing for co-processing in a refinery play a central role in this process. The IKFT has contributed to the project in particular through its research on the influence of salts on hydrothermal conversion.
FLEXI-GREEN FUELS (EU Horizon 2020, 2021–2023) is developing flexible processes for producing sustainable next-generation biofuels from waste biomass, particularly for the aviation and shipping sectors. Coordinated by Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, the project has as a target to convert lignocellulosic biomass and municipal waste into climate-friendly fuels. The carbohydrate fractions are converted into lipids and then into diesel fuel; the remaining lignin is also refined into fuels through fast pyrolysis followed by catalytic processing.
NEXT GENERATION ROAD FUELS (EU Horizon 2020, 2018–2022) shows that the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) process, combined with appropriate pre- and post-treatment, can be an efficient way to cost-effectively produce synthetic gasoline and diesel fuels, as well as other hydrocarbon compounds, from sewage sludge, food waste, and construction wood. The IKFT’s contribution consisted of optimizing the nitrogen content of HTL crude during the hydrothermal conversion and fractionation of municipal sewage sludge using various pretreatment and post-treatment methods. Coordination: Aalborg University.
BRISK 2: (EU Horizon 2020, 2017–2023), Coordinated by KTH, Sweden. The main objective is to fund researchers in the biomass-based energy production division, enabling them to access facilities for biological and thermal biomass conversion throughout Europe. Since the launch of BRISK 2 in 2017, over 100 researchers from 30 countries (as of October 2019) have been granted access.
Task Lead for IEA Bioenergy Task 34 “Direct Thermochemical Liquefaction” (2019–2027). This working group of the IEA’s TCP Bioenergy program on thermochemical liquefaction focuses on overcoming barriers to the commercialization of direct thermochemical liquefaction of biomass for the production of liquid fuels. The overarching target of the task during the three-year period 2016–2018, involving partners from the research and industry sectors, is to improve the implementation of direct thermochemical liquefaction of biomass for fuels and chemicals by solving critical technical problems and disseminating relevant information, particularly to industry and policymakers.
reFuels (State Ministry of Baden-Württemberg, 2019–2022) The research project “reFuels – Rethinking Fuels” examined the entire value chain of renewable fuels—from production on a metric-ton scale through distribution to practical use in various types of vehicles. Based on this, concepts for a refinery-scale demonstration plant were developed.
ValProWa (BMBF, 2019–2022) Evaluation of the microbial degradability of process waters generated as a byproduct of the fast pyrolysis of biomass. Aspergillus oryzae (KIT-TEBI) and Corynebacterium glutamicum (TU Munich) were used for the microbial implementation of the platform chemicals itaconic acid and L-malic acid. Using process models and simulations, continuous perfusion bioreactors were developed and characterized to reduce the negative effects of inhibitory components (University of Hohenheim).
AMBITION (EU Horizon 2020; 2016–2019) The ECRIA project contributes to the EU Research and Innovation Agenda for integrating biofuel production with the utilization of surplus grid electricity. The Research and Innovation Agenda (ECRIA) project utilizes three main pathways for the production of next-generation liquid biofuels (pre-treatment and fractionation of biomass, gasification, and synthesis gas fermentation).
PYROCO2 (EU Horizon 2020, 2020–2027): The target is to produce climate-positive acetone from industrial CO2 and hydrogen derived from renewable electricity; this acetone serves as a platform for the production of chemicals and materials with a negative carbon footprint. The demonstration plant to be built as part of the project will have the capacity to utilize up to 1,000 metric tons of industrial CO2 per year as a feedstock.
PYRAGRAF (EU Horizon 2020, 2023–2027) The project is developing a mobile all-in-one system that demonstrates the conversion of agricultural and forestry waste into valuable products through pyrolysis. This system consists of a solar-powered gasifier with a gas burner, a biomass dryer, and an integrated pyrolysis reactor. In addition to biochar as the main product, the liquid condensates and pyrolysis gas will also be put to high-value use.
B4B – Biorefineries for Baden-Württemberg (MLR Baden-Württemberg, 2018–2020) Construction and operation of a biorefinery at the University of Hohenheim. The pilot plant demonstrated the complete material conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into platform chemicals. Miscanthus was separated into a carbohydrate fraction and a lignin fraction, from which hydroxymethylfurfural, furfural, and phenolic compounds were produced, respectively. BIOPRO analyzed product utilization options, market potential, and potential stakeholders, and used this information to develop concepts and scenarios for product utilization and market launch.
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