Projects in chemicals

Low-value residues from Swedish sawmills and the wood industry have the potential to meet most of the demand for bio-based fuel for domestic air traffic. The project will develop technology for the production of biofuel via a sugar platform process using oil-rich yeast fungi and chemical-catalytic processing into aviation fuel.

How can we raise consumer awareness about the risks of direct imports via e-commerce? In this project, we explore how to inform consumers in a fun yet fact-based way using short films.

The FreeLIB (Fluorine-free Lithium-ion Batteries) project explores how PFAS and other hazardous fluorinated compounds form and are released during lithium-ion battery recycling and investigates methods to effectively reduce these emissions.

URSOILL – Swedish Living Lab works to improve soil health in Swedish cities through research, innovation, and collaboration between municipalities, academia, industry, and citizens. By developing solutions for cleaner, vibrant, and resilient urban soils, URSOILL contributes to greener cities, greater biodiversity, and more sustainable societies.

Stainless steel production generates large amounts of pickling sludge with high levels of both valuable metals and hazardous substances. iSTRESS 2.0 develops circular & climate-friendly processes to recycle resources, reduce landfill requirements & prevent the formation of carcinogenic chromium(VI) – for a safer and more sustainable metal industry.

The FUSE project aims to generate new knowledge and develop cutting-edge green technologies for the sustainable production of furan-based platform chemicals.

The uptake of hydrogen for heavy‑duty transport requires further standardisation to support Europe’s green energy future. This project will deliver the evidence needed for the standardisation of hydrogen fuel sampling for heavy‑duty applications.

The European Parliament has acknowledged that businesses, especially SMEs, need more support to replace hazardous chemicals. In response, the European Commission launched a pilot project to explore how a future EU Substitution Centre, or a network of centres, could help.

The European Parliament has acknowledged that businesses, especially SMEs, need more support to replace hazardous chemicals. In response, the European Commission launched a pilot project to explore how a future EU Substitution Centre, or a network of centres, could help.

The pulp and paper industry in Europe produces 17 million tonnes of lignin every year. However, only two per cent is used for purposes other than energy production. The EU project LIGNOFUN aims to address this issue by developing bio-based products from lignin, thereby promoting a more sustainable and circular economy.

The project combines advanced X-ray technology with machine learning to understand the internal structures of a material faster and more accurately. The aim is to develop new AI-driven methods for analyzing materials at the nanoscale. This will eventually enable better control and optimization of manufacturing processes.

The project aimed to replace chlorinated solvents, which are unsuitable from both sustainability and health aspects, in a critical step of the manufacturing process of the active pharmaceutical ingredient vipoglanstat.

Nanoparticle platforms for the delivery of RNA adjuvant and mRNA vaccines offer huge potential for innovation in vaccine technology and drug delivery. One of the benefits is the ability of nanoparticles to protect fragile RNA molecules from degradation by nucleases in the body, increasing the stability and longevity of the treatment.

The amount of textile waste consisting of polyester–cotton blends (polycotton) is close to one hundred million tonnes annually, most of which is currently incinerated or sent to landfill. The household products industry, in turn, relies largely on virgin fossil-based plastics, amounting to hundreds of millions of tonnes globally.

Brewers’ spent grain (BSG) is a by-product that is formed in significant quantities during beer production. Currently, BSG is mainly used for animal feed and production of biogas. However, the high nutritional value of BSG means that it has great potential to be valorised into an innovative, healthy and environmentally sustainable food ingredient.

The FOR-BLEND project, funded by Interreg Aurora, aims to enhance the green transition towards a sustainable economy by creating cross-border knowledge networks. The project focuses on developing a feasible process for managing forest-based residues locally to produce a sustainable fuel blending component through pyrolysis and upgrading.

The project develops new methods to enhance virus detection and surface cleaning efficiency through innovative models and molecular techniques. The results contribute to improved hygiene in societally critical environments such as healthcare, food production, and public spaces, thereby reducing the spread of infections and safeguarding public healt

Norwegian fish farms generate 600,000 tonnes of fish sludge annually, currently discharged into the sea. A cross-border project between Sweden and Norway brings together industry, researchers, and stakeholders from land and sea farming to explore converting this unused sludge into a valuable bio-based raw material for agriculture.

The project develops high-energy, high-protein nutritious food for seniors and thickened beverages for those with swallowing disorders (dysphagia). The goal is to address prevent age-related frailty (foods) and manage dysphagia (beverages).

Carbon black is one of the world's most widely used carbon-based chemicals. The main objective of this project is to take a holistic approach and investigate the entire value chain from raw materials to economic calculations and quality testing of the end product, bio-based carbon black.

The ABATE project aims to demonstrate the integration of thermochemical and biochemical processes to convert biomass residues into advanced bio-based refinery intermediates for sustainable transportation fuels.

The Bio-FlexCLC project aims to develop and demonstrate a full-chain technology that utilizes biogenic residues and wastes for flexible CHP production with the possibility of cost-effective CO2 capture.

The textile value chain involves a diverse range of materials, end users, and complex applications. Although there is a shift towards greater sustainability, progress is slow and requires more innovative technologies to address issues like low recycling rates, substitution of hazardous substances, and chemical pollutants.

In the Bio-MeGaFuel project, we proposes a novel route that converts low-value biomass to methanol via an intensified process with a minimum carbon footprint comparable to conventional methods. The process bases on chemical looping gasification to produce biomass-derived syngas which is further converted in membrane reactors to produce methanol.

The EU just passed a new law on more sustainable and circular batteries to support the EU’s energy transition. It is vital that biobased feedstocks be identified and tested for their potential to contribute to battery materials. Spent coffee grounds are an abundant (over 18 million tons per year) source of carbon-containing waste materials.

CESTAP (Competence cEntre in Sustainable Turbine fuels for Aviation and Power) is a centre of competence with academic and industrial partners promoting production and use of sustainable fuels for stationary gas turbines and aviation jet engines.

TechUPGRADE is an ambitious initiative aimed at creating a groundbreaking advanced thermochemical technology for waste heat recovery. Our solution efficiently recovers waste heat from industrial processes and upgrades it to temperatures ranging from 150-250°C.

This project aims to develop and test a concept for waste-to-energy conversion for poultry manure by investigating technical alternatives that could be viably implemented in Sweden.Thermochemical conversion of poultry manure allows farmers to generate their own renewable energy while allowing reuse of phosphorus and potassium through the ash.

The natural substance lignin, which gives strength to trees and plants, is a by-product of pulp production, This project, called ZeoLignin, studies the use of lignin to produce zeolites, which play a critical role in improving plastic recycling processes.

Efficient material recycling of fibre reinforced polymers (composites) is necessary to improve the resource efficiency and circularity of complex EoL materials. Thermochemical recycling via pyrolysis followed by recycling of the material in new composites can enable this. 

Making batteries to store clean energy is a dirty process - or was – with NoVOCs unique approach. A consortium of 17 partners will develop manufacturing technology for next-generation lithium-ion batteries, that can eliminate the volatile organic compounds from the lithium-ion battery manufacturing process via both dry and wet cell manufacturing

This project brings together novel process development and meal formulations to produce healthier, more sustainable, and palatable plant-based meals that fulfil the criteria for “nyckelhålet” and comply with EU low sodium claim level. 

3D-Action is a project with the goal to be a catalyst that increases awareness and knowledge about additive manufacturing and its benefits for small and medium-sized companies in Västra Götaland region.

To reduce eutrophication in the Baltic Sea, rivers, and lakes, and to decrease the need for fertilization, new methods are needed to prevent nutrient leaching from agricultural land. Trials in Finland have shown that the addition of gypsum can quickly reduce phosphorus losses. In GYPREG will study this in multiple countries around the Baltic Sea.

This project aims to develop scalable extraction procedures for biomolecules from discarded side-streams originating from mycoprotein food production. Different underutilised compounds produced through fungal fermentation are targeted and will once purified be exploited in formulated biobased additives for textile functionalisation.

The chemical industry is facing a major transition and needs to accelerate the pace by developing technologies for bio-based products that replace their fossil counterparts. The project Butanediol from forest-based residual streams focuses on developing processes to enable increased and more sustainable production of bio-based platform chemicals.

Rapeseed press cakes are an underutilized byproduct from the production of rapeseed oil that has the potential to become a healthy ingredient in food. The purpose of the project is to find efficient and sustainable ways to process rapeseed press cakes to enhance properties such as taste and nutritional value

Chlorinated solvents have a unique dissolving ability, but they are toxic and can be harmful to both humans’ health and environment. With the help of silico tools, the project aims to find substitute solvents that are less harmful but hopefully just as effective.

RISE, KI, NorthXBiologics and Vecura formed this consortium with the aim to building a national infrastructure around gene therapies through exploring the possibilities of dry vaccines.

RISE, KI, NorthXBiologics and Vecura formed this consortium with the aim to building a national infrastructure around gene therapies through exploring the possibilities of dry vaccines.

The accumulation of textile waste is a global challenge that requires efficient recycling solutions, as it is estimated that less than 1% of textile waste is currently being recycled as a secondary textile raw material. tExtended aims to introduce an innovative approach to the cycling of discarded textiles. 

From beach litter to microplastics is run by IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute in collaboration with RISE and Havets Hus in Lysekil. The project investigates what happens to all the plastic debris that washes ashore on our beaches. 

Increasing Circularity and Sustainability for Textiles and Clothing in Europe!

The objective of NEWLEAF is to optimize and develop future lead-free brass alloys to meet stricter requirements and contribute to a continued circular, sustainable and efficient brass industry in the Nordic countries.

The project is part of a research center financed by SSF and entitled Production, Use and Storage of Hydrogen (PUSH). RISE is focusing on laboratory testing through electrochemical characterization methods, concact resistance measurements and materials characterization including subsequent analysis.

Today, there is no simple general connection between process and external users in different mills, which constitutes an obstacle to the development of new monitoring applications. In the Industry 5.0 project, new technology will be evaluated in various sub-steps in collaboration with the project's partners.

Every year, 15 million tonnes of meat are produced in Europe, which annually creates 3.6 million tonnes of waste feathers. Only 25% of these feathers are collected and refined. In line with the EU's bioeconomy strategy, the UNLOCK project is working to evaluate this waste stream and design a new economically and sustainable value chain.

Most people have used a hot glue gun for hobby or craft projects, and also wished it would be possible to use also for food decorations. A new, hot-melt adhesive now makes it possible to use for food decorations as well as for packaging.

The interaction between different viruses and microorganisms on the skin is complex as the microbiota is built up and maintained. Hygiene products should be designed so that pathogenic microorganisms are removed without affecting the microbiota. PCR and sequencing were used to map viruses and microorganisms on hands, surfaces and soft materials.

Knowledge of the presence of resistance genes to antibiotics and biocides in microorganisms on the skin is important in order to be able to develop effective and long-term sustainable hygiene products. In the project, methodology for whole genome sequencing suitable for mapping resistance genes was further developed and applied.

The project is expected to strengthen Swedish industry's competitiveness and innovation capacity, as well as society's preparedness in the areas of infection prevention and microbial diagnostics. This will be done by establishing, developing and exploring methodologies for quantifying viruses and mapping virucidal effects from hygiene and cleaning.

The cluster for surface treatment and paint is one of eight clusters within the Swedish Manufacturing R&D Clusters. The cluster focuses on research and development in processes and materials for the next generation of surface treatment of vehicles with new combinations of materials.

The Swedish steel industry is a world leader in advanced special alloy steels. This project developed innovative sensors for monitoring steel production for higher quality and reduced consumption of raw material and energy.

Robust sensing systems for metallurgy must cope with high temperatures, dust and corrosive atmospheres. In this project, the next step was taken towards the commercialization of new technologis to monitor temperature and material composition in molten metal.

We will develop and validate robust DNA-based methods (qPCR and NGS) to quantify bacteria in the skin's microbiome. The project provides the basis for studies of the skin's microbiome to study, for example, the effect on the composition when applying different skin care products.

The aim is to decrease the problems with frost by developing functional coatings on the heat exchanger surfaces, which would lead to large energy savings due to a reduced need of defrosting.

Solid manure is a poorly used resource in Sweden but by anaerobic digestion this can be change. It has the potential to contribute with 1 TWh biogas/year. Furthermore, nitrogen is largely in organically bound form but by digestion it´s directly plant available nitrogen form, ammonia, will be multiplied.

The transport sector is dominated by the use of fossil fuels, and alternative fuels represent currently only 5% of fuel consumption in EU. The EU objective for the share of renewable energy in the transport sector is 10% in 2020. To achieve this goal, new advanced biofuels are needed and must be produced from alternative feedstocks.

The FLU-ID project developed a portable biosensor system solution that shortens the total time for the diagnostic test of influenza to less than 60 minutes. The detection method is based on volume amplification of a virus target in a microfluidic chip and magnetic sensing of a magnetic nanoparticle-based assay.

The printed biosensor projects (two PhDs students) are performed under the umbrella of the Biorapid ITN training project. This EU project is aiming at establishing a pan-European training network that will provide essential training to Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) in methods for rapid biopharmaceutical processes development and monitoring.

Membrane filtration has been used for many decades for treatment and purification of water and is well established. It has broad area of use and systems that reduce energy consumption and investment costs have been developed. If the risk of fouling could be significantly reduced this would cause a further revolution in technology impact.