Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU)’s Post

📢 We are proud to share that last week, GALACTIC and the 16 other European actors participating in the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), called Solress, held their first kick-off meeting in Spain, led by the project coordinator, AIMPLAS · Technological Institute of Plastics. Our two project managers, Pieter Van der Weeën and Carlos Antonio López Fletes, represented Galactic, which plays a key role in the success of this European project. Our efforts will focus on developing an innovative biorefinery system that will turn coffee waste and plant biomass into safe, bio-based solvents such as ethyl acetate, ethyl lactate and butyl acetate. Discover more about the project in the carousel below 👇 or via the website: https://lnkd.in/enUY8mjF And if you're interested in the project and want to know more, don't hesitate to contact us!

Bioethanol can be sustainably produced from various biomass sources, including cellulose-rich materials like plant cell walls. This process involves breaking down cellulose into fermentable sugars, which are then converted into ethanol. Utilizing waste biomass for bioethanol production reduces reliance on food crops and enhances sustainability by making use of abundant, non-food plant residues[3]. This approach not only helps in managing agricultural waste but also contributes to lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to first-generation bioethanol derived from starch or sugar crops[1][3]. How can advancing cellulose-to-ethanol technologies accelerate the shift toward a more circular bioeconomy? #Bioethanol #Biofuel #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #RenewableEnergy

📢Some recent updates from the NewWave project! 🎉 🔎 The report "Production and Delivery of Polyols," details our work in creating bio-based polyols. These are produced by hydrogenating pyrolysis oil or pyrolytic sugars using the patented Ni-based PICULA™ catalyst. ♻️These sustainable polyols are key to replacing toxic chemicals and reducing the environmental footprint in polyurethane production, contributing to a circular economy. 👉🏻Download the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dQSri6qJ BTG Biomass Technology Group BV Blue Synergy SL AEP Polymers InnoRenew CoE TransFurans Chemicals Foreco Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW FORESA Technologies #NEWWAVE #Bioeconomy #Sustainability #Polyols #Polyurethanes #EURecognition #HorizonEurope #CircularEconomy

https://lnkd.in/dcM_SfR5 🚀 Turning waste into sustainable energy! This study explores the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of bio-oil derived from sisal residue using platinum-impregnated, hierarchically structured HZSM-5 zeolites synthesized from coal fly ash silica ♻️. 🔬 Key highlights: ✅ Silica extraction: 35 wt% yield, 97% purity ✅ HZ05Pt catalyst (moderate desilication) boosted hydrocarbon yield to 68.8% ✅ Selectivity enhanced for C9–C12 (15.89%) and C13–C20 (30.86%) fractions – ideal for biofuels ✅ Oxygen reduced to 14.26 wt% (O/C = 0.15), improving energy density ❌ Excessive desilication (HZ20Pt) caused lower activity and structural degradation ⚠️ Nitrogen compounds showed limited conversion, pointing to restricted hydrodenitrogenation 🌱 By integrating moderate hierarchization with platinum incorporation, this work demonstrates a synergistic pathway for stable, energy-dense biofuels, while valorizing coal fly ash under the circular economy concept. #SustainableEnergy #CircularEconomy #WasteToValue #GreenChemistry #Catalysis #Biofuels #RenewableEnergy #HZSM5 #Zeolites #Platinum #EnergyTransition #CleanEnergy #Sisal #CarbonNeutral

🚀 New Publication Alert! I am delighted to share our recent review article published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (Impact Factor 16.3, Scopus Q1 indexed): “Advanced approaches for mitigating impact of pre-treatment generated inhibitors in lignocellulosic hydrolysates: A comprehensive review” 👉 https://lnkd.in/gfSjYmvx 🔬 Why this matters: Second-generation (2G) bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass offers a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. However, pre-treatment of biomass generates toxic inhibitors (furans, weak acids, phenolics) that hinder microbial growth and reduce ethanol yield. 📌 Our review comprehensively covers: Mechanisms of inhibitor generation and toxicity State-of-the-art detoxification strategies (physical, chemical, biological, and hybrid) Microbial bioprospecting, adaptive evolution, and metabolic engineering for inhibitor-tolerant strains Integration of multi-omics and AI-driven modeling to unravel stress-response pathways and guide precise strain engineering Future directions for building commercially viable, eco-friendly lignocellulosic biorefineries This work was a collaborative effort with Harpreet Kaur (IIT Bombay/Monash University) and Dr. Naseem A. Gaur (ICGEB, New Delhi). I hope this article serves as a valuable resource for researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers working toward sustainable energy transitions. #Bioethanol #Biorefinery #Sustainability #Lignocellulose #SyntheticBiology #RenewableEnergy #Fermentation

Furanics: Platform Molecules for the Future of Sustainable Chemistry & Fuels As industries accelerate toward net-zero, the role of biomass-derived platform molecules becomes increasingly critical. Among them, furanics (furfural, HMF, DMF) are emerging as strong contenders for the “molecule of the future.” Feedstock advantage – Derived from lignocellulosic biomass (agri-residues, bagasse, corncobs), avoiding food-fuel conflict. Chemical versatility – Furfural and HMF can be upgraded into solvents, resins, polymers, and high-value fine chemicals. Fuel pathways – Catalytic hydrogenation of furans yields DMF and furan-to-jet routes for SAF, with promising yields and drop-in compatibility. Carbon efficiency – Furanics preserve carbon atoms from sugars during processing, offering higher efficiency than traditional biofuel pathways. Scalability – Integration with biorefineries can enable large-scale production, complementing green hydrogen and CO₂-utilization technologies. In the long-term, hydrogen may lead as the universal energy carrier, but furanics provide the indispensable molecular building blocks for fuels and materials in a circular bioeconomy. #Furanics #FutureMolecules #PlatformChemicals #GreenChemistry #SAF #Bioeconomy #NetZero #SustainableFuels

📢 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐟𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 2025 We are excited to announce the release of the September 2025 issue of Biofuel Research Journal (BRJ), featuring cutting-edge research that pushes the boundaries of bio-based innovation and sustainability. 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞: ● Rewiring 𝘌𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘪 central carbon metabolism for the sustainable bioconversion of waste glycerol into biodegradable polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) ● Microbial photoproduction of n-heptane as a renewable hydrocarbon fuel ● Distillable amine-based solvents enabling effective pretreatment of diverse biomass feedstocks ● Metabolic engineering of 𝘒𝘭𝘶𝘺𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘺𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘹𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 to boost the biosynthesis of succinic acid These contributions reflect the journal’s mission to advance transformative solutions in biofuels, bioproducts, and the sustainable bioeconomy. 📖 Read the full issue here: https://lnkd.in/dkZBqiF #Biofuels #Sustainability #Biotechnology #Bioeconomy #BRJ #RenewableEnergy #GreenChemistry #CircularEconomy #SyntheticBiology #MetabolicEngineering #WasteValorization #ClimateAction #CleanEnergy #FutureFuels

These are some excellent examples of how biotechnology is paving the way for a sustainable future. My work in Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) reinforces the critical role that microbial cell factories play in the broader bioeconomy

Prof J Pieter H van Wyk (Ph.D), presented his plenary Valorization of biomass waste for medicinal purposes. He highlighted how biomass can replace fossil fuels in building a circular economy and shared his team’s innovative use of garden snails as a source of cellulase enzymes to convert waste like sawdust, peanut shells, and paper into glucose. This research is opening pathways to products such as nanocellulose, a renewable material with potential as a drug carrier. #SASBCP #SASBCP2025 #PharmacologySA #UKZN

🚀 Don´t miss my presentation of the 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 on 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟳𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝟭𝟭:𝟭𝟱 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗜𝗝 at the 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 in Minneapolis!! This project highlights not only a 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗽𝘆𝗿𝗼𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀, but also demonstrates the 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗽𝘆𝗿𝗼𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗶𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀. Looking forward to sharing insights and engaging in discussions on how biochar can play a key role in advancing sustainable practices across the Globe 🌱. #Biocharconference #NABC #biochar2025 #CarbonRemoval #Biochar #Sustainability #NGE #ClimateTech #Innovation #CircularEconomy #PyroDry #PyroPower #CleanProduction #ClosingTheLoop #NGH #forabetterfuture #CircularSolutions ♻️