SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

Jensen, L.S., Kaul, C., Juncker, N.B., Thomsen, M.H., Chaturvedi, T. Biohydrogen Production in Microbial Electrolysis Cells Utilizing Organic Residue Feedstock: A Review. Energies (2022), 15 , 8396. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15228396

Kristensen, T., Hulteberg, C., Blomberg, S. et al. Parametric Analysis and Optimization of Vanillin Hydrodeoxygenation Over a Sulfided Ni-Mo/δ-Al2O3 Catalyst Under Continuous-Flow Conditions. Top Catal (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-022-01762-8

Pérez Caballero, L.M., Neira D’Angelo, F., Tschentscher, R. et al. Developing the next generation of renewable energy technologies: an overview of low-TRL EU-funded research projects [version 1; peer review: 1 approved with reservations]. Open Res Europe (2023), 3:8. https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.15276.1

Rudnyckyj, S., Chaturvedi, T., Thomsen, M.H. Low-dosage enzymatic hydrolysis of organic municipal waste for sugar and ethanol production. Biomass Conv. Bioref. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-023-04858-7

Welcome to FLEXI-GREEN FUELS Newsletter

This newsletter informs you about the progress of the FLEXI-GREEN FUELS project. Get an overview of the current project status and meet the people behind the scenes.
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MEET THE PARTNERS

To bring FLEXI-GREEN FUELS to success 13 partners from 4 countries with different expertise are working together on this three-year project. In this section we will gradually introduce all partners, their knowledge, experience, work and hopes for the project.

Dr. Leonidas Matsakas, Associate Professor from Luleå University of Technology, Sweden

Organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass

You are working on the “Organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass” and are at the beginning of the FLEXI-GREEN FUELS process. Could you describe in simple words the organosolv process?

Organosolv is a process in which lignocellulosic or plant biomass is treated in mixture of water with an organic solvent, typically we use ethanol at temperature normally ranging between 160 °C and 200 °C for a typical period between 15 min and 60 min, that eventually results in fractionating biomass into its major components, which are cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. This way, we can then process those streams separately and use them in the most efficient way as feedstocks for the production of a range of green energy, chemicals and materials.

Read the whole interview here.

Eoghan Rattigan, Industrial Sustainability Scientist from GreenLab, Denmark

Potential of waste - contacting and inspiring waste companies

So, let me ask you: “Are the companies aware of the potential of waste in the future and when did you first saw biowaste as a potential source of energy?”

I think the difficulty with participation for these companies is that it can be hard for us to express the impotence of the project and the potential benefits of participation over email, it can be a lot easier to achieve if you can sit down and have a conversation with them. At GreenLab we have a strong focus in seeing waste as a potential value stream so it can be easy for us to visualise it, from the heat from compost to the hydrocarbons that can be released through pyrolysis. 

Read the whole interview here.

Stanislav Rudnyckyj, PhD student from Aalborg University

Hydrolysis of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste

What is the most surprising result in these two years of the project?

I encountered a remarkable outcome in the saccharification of organic waste using a remarkably low enzyme dosage, resulting in a yield of over 50%. Such results have been reported in only a few studies, albeit with lower solids loading compared to typical practices. While this makes enzymatic saccharification notably simpler, it also reduces cost-effectiveness significantly on a large-scale process.

Read the whole interview here.

Dr. Tanmay Chaturvedi, Associate Professor from Aalborg University

Lipid production by Black Soldier Fly Larvae

What is the most surprising result in these two years of the project?

The feed conversion ratio (FCR) shows the efficiency of converting dry feed into larvae biomass. A lower FCR value indicates greater feed efficiency, meaning that less feed is required to produce a unit of weight gain. A higher FCR value suggests lower efficiency, as more feed is needed to achieve the same weight gain. FCR is an important metric as it helps to optimize feed management, reduce feed costs, and improve overall profitability. In our experiments we found higher inclusion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), seems to have a lower FCR, thus indicating that mixing of OFMSW is a good feed for Black Soldier Fly Larvae.

Read the whole interview here.

Jane Lind Sam, COO ENORM Biofactory

Potential of Black Soldier Fly Larvae for biofuel production

You are the Co-founder of ENORM Biofactory A/S in Denmark, a company that is producing sustainable feed protein. When was the first time you saw the potential of black soldier fly larvae for biofuel production?

I first heard about Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) production about 10 years ago. I stumbled upon it when researching about remediation of nutrients from manure through microalgae. I was amazed of the simplicity of growing larvae. No expensive lights, no advanced bioreactor. Just a box of feedstock and baby larvae. It turned out to be not so simple.

Read the whole interview here.

Prof. Dr. Konstantinos Triantafyllidis from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Thermochemical and catylytic upgrading of lipids to biofuels

Prof. Dr. Triantafyllidis, let me ask you: “When did you start your interest for thermochemical/catalytic conversion processes towards biofuels?”

At early 2000’s many researchers working on petroleum catalytic refining processes turned their interest to the “new” renewable and abundant feedstock for producing fuels and chemicals, that of (waste) biomass, either lignocellulosic or lipid biomass. Our initial work, in 2005, focused on the catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass aiming to the “in-situ” upgrading of the low-quality, highly complex, oxygenated bio-oil, towards de-oxygenated bio-oil, enriched in alkylated phenols, BTX mono-aromatics and naphthalenes.

Read the whole interview here.

Dr. Axel Funke from Karlsruher Institute of Technology
Ana Correa de Araujo from Karlsruher Institute of Technology

Lignin Fast Pyrolysis

Axel and Ana, you are involved in the catalytic processing work package and are focusing on Lignin Fast Pyrolysis. So, let me ask you: When did you start your interest for this topic?

I learned about the trouble encountered during processing of lignin at high temperatures and was intrigued how mechanical mixing induced by auger reactors helps mitigating problems. I gladly accepted the challenge to prove this technology for such a demanding feedstock!

Read the whole interview here.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101007130.