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Side streams from the forest industry, like saw dust can be used to manufacture for example PLA plastic

Green Bioraff Solutions

How can we better use residual streams from the forest industry to create new sustainable products and solutions? The international project Green Bioraff Solutions focuses on refining residual streams, mainly sawdust, bark and fiber sludge. The goal is to develop attractive biorefinery solutions for production with a focus on Sweden and Finland.

Biodegradable and bio-based plastic

The slow decomposition process of plastics produced from fossil raw materials is a major environmental problem, both in our oceans and in other areas. In the project Green Bioraff Solutions (GBS), the goal is to produce a biodegradable and bio-based plastic from lactic acid. It is produced by fermentation and chemocatalysis of sawdust and pulp residues, e.g. fiber sludge, to produce forest residue-based PLA. In addition, residual streams from the process will be investigated and attempts will be made to reduce or reuse them. Plastic produced from a renewable source, such as wood, would also lead to reduced CO2 emissions compared to plastics produced from fossil raw materials.

Activated carbon

From the hydrolysis lignin, the GBS project will produce activated carbon that can be used in industrial processes and water purification. Today, activated carbon is imported from other parts of the world and a large part comes from Sri Lanka. If, with the help of raw materials from our forest, production can be started in Sweden and Finland, great environmental benefits would therefore be created. On the one hand, we take advantage of the residual streams that already exist, while at the same time reducing the need for long-distance transport. Due to its many uses, there is a large potential market for "green" activated carbon, which in itself also creates major environmental and climate benefits.

Tannin-based foams

With bark, another by-product of the forest industry, the plan is to develop tannin-based foams, which are known for their high fire resistance. Bark contains large amounts of tannins, which can be extracted by so-called soxhlet extraction, where water or ethyl acetate is added. Tannin-based foams have several potential uses, for example in the construction industry where its fire resistance and light weight have great advantages. Within the project, tests will also be performed on tannin foam as a catalyst in the conversion of biomass.

Develop new biorefinery solutions

The project consortium aims to develop new attractive biorefinery solutions for production in Sweden and Finland. The target groups for the project consist of raw material suppliers, the sawmill and pulp and paper industry and the end users, e.g. composite companies or construction companies.

Stakeholders in the project
Companies: Domsjö Fabriker, Holmen, SEKAB, Blastic AB, SCA, UPM, Eskolan Saha, Fifth Innovation Oy, Kokkolan Nahka och Silvateam
Academia: LUKE, Aalto University och Tampere University

Popular Science Report

Curious to know more? We have now compiled the work in Green Bioraff Solutions in a popular science report.

You can read the report here

Summary

Project name

GBS

Status

Completed

Region

Region Västernorrland

RISE role in project

Project partner

Project start

Duration

2021-04-30

Total budget

1 606 000 EUR

Partner

RISE Processum, Centria University of Applied Sciences, Karleby universitetscenter Chydenius

Funders

Interreg Botnia-Atlantica, Region Västernorrland, Österbottens Förbund

Coordinators

Project members

Supports the UN sustainability goals

7. Affordable and clean energy
9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure
11. Sustainable cities and communities
12. Responsible consumption and production
13. Climate action
14. Life below water
17. Partnerships for the goals
Yvonne M Nordin

Contact person

Yvonne M Nordin

Senior Project Manager

+46 10 516 67 65

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Contact person

Mihaela Tanase

Senior Forsker

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