BIOPYRANIA

BIOBASED PYRAZINE MONOMERS FROM SECOND GENERATION BIOMASS FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE POLYMERS, COPOLYMERS AND BLENDS

Project details

Type of project: Research & Innovation Action
Project focus: Bio-based polymers & plastics
Feedstock origin: Forestry waste
Feedstock type: Lignin & wood residues

Project period: 1 October 2024 - 30 September 2028
Status: In progress
CBE JU Contribution: € 4 999 785,00
Call identifier: HORIZON-JU-CBE-2023

Summary

The European automotive and energy industries are facing the challenge of creating sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel-based products with a low environmental impact and high durability, recyclability, and safety.

BIOPYRANIA offers an innovative solution to these challenges by developing synthesised bio-based pyrazine monomers via fermentative processes from European second-generation woody biomass. Expanding on previous studies of pyrazine-based polyesters at Maastricht University, BIOPYRANIA shows that incorporating pyrazines into materials results in improved properties. By leveraging these properties, the project aims to develop sustainable polyamide (PA) and polybenzimidazole (PBI) polymers for high-performance applications in automotive electrification and green hydrogen production.

With the increase of automotive electrification, lightweight and high-performance materials like BIOPYRANIA polyamides are crucial. Simultaneously, the green energy sector demands clean hydrogen production, and BIOPYRANIA aims to improve anion exchange membranes with pyrazine-based polybenzimidazoles, to meet 22% of the global ’final energy‘ demand. Recycling will boost their circularity profile, while digital methodologies and comprehensive studies will support and accelerate these advancements.