Biorizon

PUBLICATION | Biorizon co-initiator VITO has recently published an article in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, entitled 'Hardener-Dependent Properties of Twice Renewable Epoxy Resins Combining Tailored Lignin Fractions and Recycled BPA'. The results show how #biobased and #recycled #aromatic building blocks could be combined for the design of #epoxy #resins with superior properties in both sustainable and technical terms. Click on the link in the comments to read the entire article.

SAVE THE DATE | On November 27 and 28 2024, Shared Research Center Biorizon will host its 11th Biorizon Annual Event on Bio-Aromatics in Antwerp and online. In September you will receive an invitation to register for this event. For now, we kindly ask you to please save the date! Click on the link in the comments to add this event to your calendar.

VACANCY | Biorizon co-initiator VITO is looking for #interns with an education in the field of #chemistry, #polymer chemistry and/or #organic chemistry. - Duration: next semester, Sept. ‘24 to Jan. ’25 - Location: VITO lab at Green Chemistry Campus in Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands. - Topic: VITO project activities within the BIO-CAPPP or Better Biobased Building Blocks (B4) projects.   BIOPOLYMER DESIGN USING LIGNIN OR LIGNIN OILS The synthesis of (semi)aromatic #polymers derived from #renewable resources is currently attracting tremendous interest from both academia and industry, as #aromatic compounds are key intermediates in the manufacture of #polymers and #chemicals. Lignin is the second most abundant natural polymer on earth (after cellulose), and represents the only large scale source of aromatic in nature. Unfortunately, #lignin is still poorly valorized today, and is mainly used as a low cost fuel. At the Sustainable Polymer Technologies (SPOT) team at VITO we have set ourselves the goal to change this situation: we aim to (partially) replace petroleum-based chemicals and polymers by using lignin derived chemicals. Knowledge in formulation, polymerization conditions, material production and characterization, provide us with a deep understanding of how to design biobased materials suitable for a large number of applications such as, #coatings, #adhesives, #insulators and #foams.   The internship will rely on various analytical techniques such as FTIR, GPC, NMR, DSC, TGA, as well as mechanical characterization techniques such as rheology, DMA or tensile testing.   For more information or to apply for this position, please contact Sandra Corderí Gándara at sandra.corderigandara@vito.be or +31 (0)6 17 60 80 92.   CC: Avans Hogeschool, MNEXT, Hogeschool Rotterdam, Radboud University, Zuyd Hogeschool | Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Universiteit Maastricht ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The B4 project has a total budget of €4.4 million and it is co-financed by the European Union under the Just Transition Fund (JTF), the Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat, the Ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid and Provincie Noord-Brabant.    The BIO-CAPPP project has a total budget of €4.3 million and is co-funded by Interreg Vlaanderen-Nederland, the cross-border cooperation program with financial support from the European Regional Development Fund, VLAIO, Provincie Antwerpen, Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen, Provincie Noord-Brabant and the Dutch Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat.

Maarten Rubens of Biorizon co-initiator VITO live on stage at the Renewable Materials Conference of nova-Institut GmbH in Siegburg. Topic of his presentation: Lignin depolymerization and upgrading towards sustainable acrylic based materials. Want to know more? Business developer Roel Vleeschouwers would be happy to discuss the opportunities for your organization! #renewable #aromatics #lignin #biobased

Roel Vleeschouwers from Biorizon co-initiator VITO gave a presentation at Biobased Coatings Europe on lignin-based bio-aromatics. Want to know more about lignin-based bio-aromatics for performance coatings? Roel Vleeschouwers would be more than happy to discuss the opportunities for your product and organization.

Congratulations to BioBTX that has secured €80 million to launch its first commercial-scale plant for renewable #aromatics. Great news for the market of #biobased #aromatics and a fantastic achievement of the entire BioBTX team. While BioBTX focuses on the production of renewable drop-in chemicals and aromatics, Biorizon co-initiators TNO and VITO continue to focus on technology development for the production of functionalized #biobased and #renewable #aromatics, in close cooperation with the industry. Let's change the future of the chemical industry by replacing fossil-based aromatics by renewable ones!

NEWS | Flemish Government Invests € 8 Million 💶 in Lignin-Based Bio-Aromatics 🌿 Recently, the Flemish government has decided to invest € 8 million in the lignin-to-bioaromatics research that VITO executes under the flag of Biorizon Shared Research Center. During a visit from the Flemish Minister of Economic Affairs & Innovation Jo Brouns, Vanbroekhoven Karolien and Kelly Servaes proudly showed VITO's LignoValue Pilot Plant and the PILLAR II unit. Please watch the interview with VITO CEO Inge Neven by the Flemish newspaper Nieuwsblad (link in comments).

Is a #circular economy for #polymers possible? Biorizon's Lignin to Bio-Aromatics horizon manager Vanbroekhoven Karolien thinks it is. What do you think? https://lnkd.in/ewCFM3U4

For our Dutch speaking audience: very nice item that was broadcasted on Dutch national TV featuring our valued collaboration partner Baril Coatings Nederland. Biorizon co-initiator TNO, spin-off company Relement & Baril Coatings are working together to develop 100% #biobased alkyd coatings.

PROJECT | Western North Brabant becomes hotspot ↗ for biobased building blocks 🌿 for the construction industry 🏗   Over the next 3 years, 11 partners in West-North Brabant, led by TNO, will be working together to make green building blocks with local tree and plant residues. From grass to glue, from sugar beet pulp to paint or from wood chips to insulation foam are examples of what the B4 project – Better Biobased Building Blocks - envisions. These building blocks not only make products for the construction industry more sustainable, but also provide scratch resistance, flame retardancy or UV resistance. Besides these technological innovations, the partners in this B4 project also share knowledge with students, companies and governments to prepare them for and involve them in this raw materials transition. This will transform Western North Brabant into a hotspot for biobased building blocks for the construction industry.   Projectpartners: TNO & VITO under the flag of Biorizon Shared Research Center, Avans Hogeschool under the flag of MNEXT Centre of Expertise, Westlake, Relement, Worlée-Chemie GmbH, Baril Coatings Nederland, Green Chemistry Campus, Impershield Europe B.V. - Biobased Impregneren en coaten, Bodewes Material Solutions & Progression-Industry BV. The B4 project has a total budget of €4.4 million and it is co-financed by the European Union under the Just Transition Fund (JTF), the Dutch Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat, the Ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid and the Provincie Noord-Brabant.  CC Stimulus Programmamanagement #biobased #construction #building #sustainable #innovation