Half a million for TKI project 'Processes for Industrial application of natural Deep Eutectic Solvents'
UT researcher Boelo Schuur is working with industry on green solutions for separation processes, pioneering his field. His work is increasingly recognised by both industry and government. He recently secured over half a million euros from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs via a so-called TKI application.
The chemical industry has a major role to play in our society's energy transition, accounting for about ten per cent of total CO2 emissions in the Netherlands, half of which are caused by separation processes.
Traditional separation processes in chemistry involve distillation, separating a mixture of substances on the basis of a mutual difference in boiling point. This is not always energy-efficient and, in the case of biorefinery, far from always technically possible.
Schuur cites the paper industry as an example of biorefinery. "In current paper mills, lignin is extracted and burned. The energy released during combustion is more than enough for the factory. Even surrounding towns can be heated with it through a heat grid. However, this solvent regeneration provides no further added value. If you can get enough energy from other renewable sources that provide the energy for the plant, you can make valuable products from the lignin. Not burning the lignin also reduces CO2 emissions. You can use the lignin to manufacture bioplastics or new chemicals. So there will be a whole new category of products as a by-product of making paper. That does presuppose regeneration of lignin from the solvent, without burning it. That is what I am working on."
Boelo Schuur received 525,000 euros from the Dutch government for the TKI project 'Processes for Industrial application of natural Deep Eutectic Solvents'.
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Source: http://npt.pmg.nl/nl/companycorner/50240451/T19233N0003XMDM/revolutie-in-scheidingstechnieken?kw=
