VITO explores the potential of lignin/wood, algae and insects for alternative production of drop-in chemicals, through a partial conversion with maximal preservation of existing functionalities as foreseen by nature. In combination with efficient fractionation, this could be an alternative for the classic multistep cracking and production processes in the petrochemical industry. VITO focuses on separation solutions for innovative conversion concepts and enables the introduction of these value chains in the chemical industry landscape. VITO also opens doors to new application areas by developing new high-value molecules.

Projects

Algae4IBD - Health from aquatic resources

IDEA - Implementation and development of economic viable algae-based value chains

Prometheus: assessment of microbial protein sources for food and feed

Lignocost: establishment of a Pan-European Network on the Sustainable Valorization of Lignin

SPICY: sugar-based chemicals and polymers through Innovative chemocatalysis and engineered yeast

Lignin Oxidation technology for versatile lignin dispersants

Publications

Interdependence of Solvent and Catalyst Selection on Low Pressure Hydrogen-Free Reductive Catalytic Fractionation
Year: 
2023
Journal: 
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
Facas, GG; Brandner, DG; Bussard, JR; Román-Leshkov, Y; Beckham, GT
Elucidating the effect of the physicochemical properties of organosolv lignins on its solubility and reductive catalytic depolymerization
Year: 
2023
Journal: 
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
Raikwar, D; Van Aelst, K; Vangeel, T; Corderi, S; Van Aelst, J; Bosch, SV; Servaes, K; Vanbroekhoven, K; Elst, K; Sels, BF
Selective Enzymatic Esterification of Lignin-Derived Phenolics for the Synthesis of Lipophilic Antioxidants
Year: 
2023
Journal: 
ANTIOXIDANTS
Martinez-Garcia, M; Gracia-Vitoria, J; Vanbroekhoven, K; Dejonghe, W; Satyawali, Y
The chemical and physical properties of lignin bio-oils, facts and needs
Year: 
2023
Journal: 
CURRENT OPINION IN GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY
Gracia-Vitoria, J; Gándara, SC; Feghali, E; Ortiz, P; Eevers, W; Triantafyllidis, KS; Vanbroekhoven, K
Recent advances in epoxy resins and composites derived from and related bio-oils
Year: 
2022
Journal: 
CURRENT OPINION IN GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY
Pappa, C; Feghali, E; Vanbroekhoven, K; Triantafyllidis, KS

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