The major objective of this proposal is the development of new active and selective catalysts based on earth abundant metals (e.g. Fe, Mn, Co, Cu). These catalysts will be used for improved synthetic transformations which are of interest for organic chemistry in general and which are also of significant practical value for the chemical and life science industries. Traditional catalysts based on non-noble metals are not efficient for hydrogenation and dehydrogenation processes under mild conditions. However, by creating a suitable microenvironment with M-N interactions they are becoming active and selective. According to our concept the suitable surrounding will be created either by using nitrogen-containing pincer ligands or nitrogen-doped graphenes. Consequently, a variety of both molecular-defined homogeneous catalysts as well as nano-structured heterogeneous materials will be prepared, characterized and tested in various catalytic applications. More specifically, the following redox transformations will be investigated: Hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation of carboxylic acids, esters, and nitriles; hydrogenation of amides and peptides; hydrogenation of carbon dioxide and selective oxidative coupling of alcohols to esters, amides, and nitriles. Furthermore, “waste-free” carbon-carbon bond forming reactions such as alkylations with alcohols and domino-synthesis of heterocycles from alcohols will be exploited. Finally, homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts from earth abundant metals will be used in industrially relevant oxidative carbonylation reactions. With respect to methodology this proposal combines homogeneous with heterogeneous catalysis, which will result in new ideas for both fields.

UV curable polyurethane (PU) coatings play a major role in a wide range of industries, due to their versatility, excellent performance and energy-efficient production and application. The global PU coating market was valued at USD 17.4 billion in 2021. Unfortunately, PU coatings still largely depend on fossil-based raw materials. Biobased alternatives are restricted to a negligible market volume, and, to date, there is no high-performance alternative with a biogenic content above 50% available. BIORING proposes a synthesis platform that combines biobased monomers and crosslinking agents to produce high-performance UV-curable PU coatings with >95% biogenic content. To reach this ambitious goal, we will develop the key pieces required to produce fully biogenic PU coatings from currently available biobased components. Our modular approach allows to fine-tune the characteristics of the coatings and adjust them to the requirements of highly demanding European industries. Furthermore, the platform will be able to adapt to future developments of new biobased building blocks. The development process will be guided by process simulations and modelling of product properties. We will demonstrate our approach for two use cases: automotive and construction, including not only functional validation, but also an economic analysis for future scale-up, where the components can be produced within a biorefinery. We will assess biodegradability as well as different recycling scenarios for coated products, according to the respective industry demands and standards. BIORING includes a thorough LCA and LCC. The BIORING consortium is composed of 12 partners, including RTOs, SMEs, large enterprises and an industrial association, from 5 European countries. The participation of producers and end users will guarantee access to stakeholders and open the doors to future scale-up. BIORING will allow companies to comply with European legislation and make them more competitive globally.

The GreenSolRes project demonstrates the levulinic acid (LVA) value chain of lignocellulosic feedstocks to high-value products in a 3-step approach on TRL 6. First, a demonstration plant in Biorefinery of RWTH Aachen will be designed and build for conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to the platform chemical levulinic acid. Levulinic acid hydrolysate separation enables more efficient and purer levulinic acid production. In a 2nd step the versatile platform chemical levulinic acid is hydrogenated to 2-methyltetrathydrofuran (2-MTHF), gamma-valerolactone (GVL) and 1-methyl-1,4-butanediol (MeBDO) in a direct process developed by RWTH Aachen. These can be produced in the same reactor with a single catalyst by tuning the process conditions. In parallel, BASF will investigate the conversion of LVA esters to MeBDO and GVL. Third, the application of the products as solvents is validated in adhesives and the pharma sector as substitute of their less sustainable C4-analogues. Additionally, HENKEL studies the development of respective new polymers with improved properties. The basic engineering of first commercial plants for these steps supports rapid upscaling and exploitation after the project. This will release these products from the niche markets they are confined to due to ineffective existing production routes. At competitive prices compared to their petrochemical C4-counterparts these chemicals and related products will boost the bio-based market as they have a high greenhouse gas emission avoidance of at least 70% and an additional value to society via better health & safety properties. The whole value chain from e.g. forestry residues to consumer products is assessed for environmental sustainability, risks and health & safety to support business case development and market implementation.

BIOALL falls in the topics of fighting climate change, circular economy and clean energy through the development of efficient low-cost processes for the conversion of biomass and CO2 into high added-value chemicals and fuels. The scientific objectives of the projects aim at obtaining high added value chemicals from biomass. This will be done using a subproduct of biorefinery processes, formic acid, as hydrogen source to transform two key biomass derivative molecules, succinic acid and furfural into gamma-butyrolactone and furfuryl alcohol, that can be used as building block to produce chemicals for the pharmaceutical industry. By doing so, we avoid the use of hydrogen from fossil fuels. Since, formic acid decomposition results also in CO2. we also aim at obtaining cost-effective catalysts for the so-called automethanation, a reaction in which by adding oxygen the yield to methane is enhanced and that can be used in any process to convert CO2. The study of the reactions mechanisms will be also pursued to optimize the processes and expand the knowledge in this area to be useful for related transformations. To achieve these ambitious objectives, BIOALL is composed of a solid multidisciplinary (materials science, catalysis, engineering, economics, management, environmental, social and cost life cycle assessment) and international (Spain, Germany, France, The UK, Chile, Colombia and China) consortium that holds all the scientific, economical and human resources for the successful project development. The intersectoral partnerships with 3 relevant actors in the field, will be key in assessing the objectives. The project will bring together these complementary skills to develop synergies from which a significant added value is expected concerning the progress on the topic and to develop a fruitful long-term cooperation while training researchers and approaching research to the general public.

FLIX is a radically new concept for the ultimate-stage chemical isotopic labeling of high added-value molecules (drugs, biologics, smart materials) with stable isotopes. It utilizes the unique properties of new generations of catalysts, which specifically and selectively exchange predetermined atoms and chemical motifs of end-use organic compounds. The ultimate outcome of the project is to devise and build a modular and adaptable flow chemistry system for the straightforward and combinable isotopic labeling of complex chemicals and biologics. The ‘FLIX machinery’ will use a combination of specialized reactor modules operating under continuous flow conditions, either in closed-loop or open systems for the on-line H/D, C-12/C-13, N-14/N-15 and methoxy group direct isotopic exchanges with an unprecedented efficacy and without any chemical alteration of the molecules. The project’s objectives are to: 1) develop new generations of organometallic catalysts for isotopic exchange reactions; 2) screen catalysts for the isotopic exchange on a relevant portfolio of organic molecules in batch and flow chemistries and assess catalyst robustness; 3) devise and validate the ‘combinable isotope labeling’ concept; 4) design and build an adaptable multi-module machinery for combinable chemical exchange labeling. FLIX synergistically associates the expertise and innovation potential of a mixed academic/industrial multidisciplinary consortium. The project is expected to have a multi-billion Euro positive impact on all sectors using stable isotopes in particular: 1) drug innovation, by accelerating preclinical studies, de-risking clinical trials and fostering the development of novel deuterated ‘heavy drugs’; 2) design of new tracers for diagnostic imaging with improved biological properties; 3) streamlining the production of multi-labeled complex molecules for NMR studies; 4) the development of novel isotopically-enriched materials.