Top 20 innovative bio-based products Task 3 of “Study on Support to R&I Policy in the Area of Bio-based Products and Services” Written by University of Bologna and Fraunhofer ISI EN December – 2018 Top 20 innovative bio-based products European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation Directorate F — Bioeconomy Unit F.2 — Biobased Products and Processing Contact Maria Fernandez Gutierrez E-mail [email protected] [email protected] European Commission B-1049 Brussels Manuscript completed in December 2018. This document has been prepared for the European Commission however it reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. More information on the European Union is available on the internet (http://europa.eu). Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2019 PDF ISBN 978-92-76-03420-9 doi: 10.2777/85805 KI-02-19-301-EN-N © European Union, 2019. 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EUROPEAN COMMISSION Top 20 innovative bio-based products Task 3 of “Study on Support to R&I Policy in the Area of Bio-based Products and Services” edited by University of Bologna and Fraunhofer ISI Directorate-General for Research and Innovation 2019 EN 1 Table of Contents ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................ 3 RESUME SCIENTIFIQUE ...................................................................................... 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................ 4 RESUME ........................................................................................................... 10 SECTION 1 BACKGROUND, POLICY CONTEXT AND AIM OF THE STUDY ................... 18 1 Background ................................................................................................................ 18 2 Policy context ............................................................................................................. 19 3 Aim of the study ......................................................................................................... 20 SECTION 2 APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY ........................................................ 24 SECTION 3 BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE BIOMASS COMPONENTS INCLUDED IN THE STUDY ............................................................................................................. 27 SECTION 4 THE DATABASE OF BIO-BASED PRODUCTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT: RELEVANT OUTCOMES ....................................................................................... 35 SECTION 5 THE SELECTED TOP 20 INNOVATIVE BIO-BASED PRODUCTS: RELEVANT OUTCOMES ....................................................................................................... 49 SECTION 6 DETAILED CASE STUDIES ON THE TOP 20 INNOVATIVE BIO-BASED PRODUCTS ....................................................................................................... 53 1 Guayule rubber ........................................................................................................... 54 2 Microfibrillated cellulose (nanocellulose) ......................................................................... 63 3 Thermoplastic biopolymers reinforced with plant fibres .................................................... 71 4 Plant fibres reinforced bioresin pre-pregs ....................................................................... 80 5 Self-binding composite non-woven plant fibres ............................................................... 89 6 Lignin biocomposites reinforced with plant fibres............................................................. 94 7 High-purity lignin ........................................................................................................ 99 8 Lignin-based carbon nanofibres .................................................................................... 110 9 Lignin bio-oil .............................................................................................................. 119 10 Lignin-based phenolic resins ......................................................................................... 131 11 Bio-BTX aromatics ...................................................................................................... 141 12 Bio-based phenol and alkylphenols ................................................................................ 151 13 Bio-based polyamide 12 ............................................................................................... 158 14 Biolubricants .............................................................................................................. 170 15 PHAs from renewable oils and fats ................................................................................ 180 16 Limonene-based engineering polymers .......................................................................... 193 17 Bacterial biosurfactants: sophorolipids and rhamnolipids .................................................. 202 18 Biotechnological chitosan ............................................................................................. 212 19 PHAs from urban wastes .............................................................................................. 228 20 Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) mixture ................................................................................ 236 SECTION 7 R&D GAPS ....................................................................................... 244 ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................... 267 APPENDIX A - SHORT DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INNOVATIVE BIO-BASED PRODUCTS INCLUDED IN THE DATABASE ............................................................................. 269 APPENDIX B - DATA SOURCES AND LITERATURE SURVEY ..................................... 291 2 ABSTRACT This study was carried out for the EC-DG RTD in the framework of the BIOSPRI tender "Study on support to R&I policy in the area of bio-based products (BBPs) and services", and was implemented by the University of Bologna (Italy) and Fraunhofer ISI (Germany) as part of a Consortium led by COWI A/S (Denmark). The study mapped the most relevant value chains currently under development that derive from main biomass components (natural rubber, plant fibres, lignin, renewable oils and fats) and low-volume high-value (LVHV) biomass components (terpenes, natural polyelectrolytes), in addition to urban wastes. The sugar platform was not included in the present study because its potential exploitation for the development of biofuels and biochemicals was covered in a previous study commissioned by the European Commission, and concluded in 2015 [1]. While more than 100 innovative BBPs were monitored, lignin was found to be generating the highest number of innovative products, together with terpenes and urban wastes. More than 30 innovative BBPs are approaching full availability on the market, and more than 20 products are now at the pilot plant level. Through an assessment based on the active marketplace, EU-based development, degree of innovation and market potential, the TOP20 most innovative BBPs holding the greatest promise for commercial deployment within the next 5-10 years were identified. This selection includes engineering materials, new bioplastics, high added-value products for demanding applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields, as well as sustainable substitutes for critical raw materials. Detailed case studies were developed on the TOP20 innovative BBPs. RÉSUMÉ SCIENTIFIQUE Cette étude a été réalisée pour le compte de la CE-DG RTD, dans le cadre du projet BIOSPRI «Study on support to R&I policy in the area of bio-based products (BBPs) and services». Elle a été menée par l’Université de Bologne (Italie) et Fraunhofer ISI (Allemagne), parties prenantes du consortium dirigé par COWI A/S (Danemark). L’étude a permis de dresser une liste des chaînes de valeur les plus pertinentes en cours de développement, provenant des principaux composants de la biomasse (caoutchouc naturel, fibres végétales, lignine, huiles et graisses recyclables), des composants de la biomasse à faible volume et à forte valeur (terpènes, polyélectrolytes naturels), ainsi que des déchets urbains. Le sucre en tant que matière première n’a pas été abordé dans cette étude car son exploitation potentielle pour le développement de biocarburants et de produits biochimiques a déjà été traitée dans une étude commandée par la Communauté Européenne et présentée en 2015 [1]. Sur plus de 100 BBPs analysés, il a été constaté que la lignine, le terpène et les déchets urbains généraient le plus grand nombre de produits innovants. Plus de 30 BBPs innovants sont sur le point d’être commercialisés à grande échelle, et plus de 20 produits en sont à l’étape de l’usine pilote. Grâce à une évaluation basée sur le marché actif, le degré de développement au niveau de l’Union Européenne, le degré d’innovation et le potentiel commercial, le TOP20 des BBPs les plus innovants offrant les meilleures perspectives de déploiement commercial dans les 5 à 10