European-funded Valor Plus project seeks to boost cellulosic biorefinery capacity

In the UK, the Valor Plus project is providing new knowledge, new biotechnologies and new products that support the release, refinement and transformation of lignocellulosic biomass, lipids and low-volume functional chemicals to produce multiple bulk and high-value product streams.

With funding from the EU FP7 program, the Valor Plus project consists of a strong consortium of 14 partners, including SMEs, research centers, universities and one large enterprise. In delivering improved sustainability, commercial and environmental benefits, the Valor Plus project is focused on five key areas:

• • Pre-treatment and fractionation: development of a novel methodology for the controlled breakdown, release and fractionation of the lignocellulosice biomass.
• • Hemicellulose Valorisation: engineering of new enzymes and microorganisms for the controlled hydrolysis and transformation of hemicellulose to high value oligomers and bulk fermentation product streams.
• • Lignin Valorisation: utilisation of combined chemo-enzymatic and chemo-microbial processes for the controlled depolymerisation and transformation of standardised lignin feedstocks to value product streams.
• • Glycerol Valorisation: engineering of new microorganisms  suitable for the fermentation of crude glycerol to higher value product streams.
• • Demonstration of the technological and economic potential: demonstrating component technologies, roadmaps for technology and product stream integration, case studies and a full life cycle assessment.