10-03-2013

Shared Research Center Biobased Aromatics

Last March saw the launch of the Shared Research Center Biobased Aromatics on the Green Chemistry Campus in Bergen op Zoom.

This platform is a cross-border initiative between TNO, VITO and the Green Chemistry Campus and is part of Biobased Delta. This platform is anticipating the expected growing shortage of aromatics from the petrochemical industry and the industry's widely shared ambition to develop new green alternatives derived from renewable raw materials. The Shared Research Center is going to examine how bio-aromatic compounds from agro-residuals can be developed and its ambition is to become one of the world's top centres in this field within five years.

Shale gas lacks the aromatics that agro-residuals contain

The rapid advance of relatively inexpensive shale gas appears to be adversely affecting the competitive position of the bio-based economy. But shale gas − in contrast to the more expensive fossil oil – has insufficient aromatic compounds. These compounds form a base material for many chemical applications, for example aromatic phenol, used in the chemical industry for the production of high-grade synthetics such as polycarbonate. Shale gas will replace 30% of the fossil oil and this will create a worldwide shortage of aromatics. Furthermore, the market for aromatics is growing by 5 to 10% annually. This also applies to bio-based raw materials: in this case demand is rising while the supply is falling. Take Coca Cola's PlantBottle. This is still not made from 100% renewable, plant-based materials because, at the present moment, bio-aromatics are not available on an industrial scale. The Shared Research Center Biobased Aromatics wants to capitalise on this situation by making bio-based aromatics from agro-residuals.

Ambition finds a willing audience among potential partners

The opportunities that the Shared Research Center envisages link up with the ambitions of the potential partners: international, authoritative players from the agro/food and chemicals industries. They represent both the supply and demand side in the chain, namely the suppliers wanting to add value to residuals and technological enterprises that generate green basic materials from these residuals, as well as parties using them for the production of high-grade bio-based chemicals, materials and coatings. In the coming months it will become clear which parties will actually participate in the Center. The programme will be defined more specifically in the second quarter of 2013 and the contracts signed in the third quarter. In time, laboratory experiments, demo-scale pilot plants for selected technologies and an extensive knowledge and patent portfolio of specific micro-organisms and equipment can be expected.

Initiators: TNO, VITO & Green Chemistry Campus

For the initiators −TNO, VITO and the Green Chemistry Campus − this is a unique opportunity to accelerate the innovation required and, in doing so, contribute to the realisation of the bio-based economy. It also fits in perfectly with the COCI status that VNCI has awarded the Green Chemistry Campus: Center for Open Chemical Innovation. TNO and VITO, both of whom have years of experience with this form of collaboration, are supplying the researchers. They will deploy their knowledge and experience in the field of biotech, chemistry and process technology. In addition to the three initiators the Strategic Board, Zuid-West Nederland is a keen advocate of the initiative and will do its best to gain support from national and European authorities.

Cross-border: from Biobased Delta via Biobase-Europe to ARRR

The Shared Research Center Biobased Aromatics is not confined within the borders of Belgium or the Netherlands. Willem Sederel, Director of Biobased Delta in which the Green Chemistry Campus is established: "Biobased Delta is currently the focus point: the collaboration of businesses, authorities and knowledge institutes in the South West Netherlands. Under the slogan "Agro meets Chemistry" we are working on up-grading agro-residuals in bio-based innovations. Biobase-Europe (Ghent-Terneuzen) is also involved and, over time, we want to reinforce the largest chemical cluster in the world, ARRR (Antwerp-Rotterdam-Rhein-Ruhr). This fits in perfectly with European policy that aims to strengthen these regions according to the principal of smart specialisation".

For more information please contact Freek van den Heuvel at N.V. REWIN West-Brabant, one of the Green Chemistry Campus partners, via +31 (0)651 99 41 19 or f.vandenheuvel@rewin.nl

TNO

TNO is an independent research organisation that, on the basis of its expertise and innovations, makes an important contribution to the competitive strength of businesses and organisations, the economy and the quality of society in its entirety. TNO occupies a unique position thanks to its versatility and its capacity to integrate this knowledge. http://www.tno.nl

VITO

As an independent and customer-orientated research organisation, VITO provides innovatory technological solutions and makes scientifically-based recommendations and provides support to stimulate sustainable development and reinforce the economic and social fabric of Flanders. http://www.vito.be

The Green Chemistry Campus

The Green Chemistry Campus, located on the SABIC Innovative Plastics site is an incubator where businesses accelerate their bio-based innovations on the cutting edge of agro and chemistry. The campus is an initiative of the Province of North Brabant, the Municipality of Bergen op Zoom and NV REWIN West-Brabant. http://www.greenchemistrycampus.nl