Beets to Polymers
The challenge for this project is to apply chemicals from sugar derivatives to new materials that can be implemented in a number of different markets. The target materials derive their right to exist from a unique set of functionalities that are available at an acceptable price from the local sugar industry.
Approach
At present, incumbent materials are often (solely) fossil, have a different achievement profile and being internationally procured for this application. Besides this, the appropriate materials will at first be produced in limited but sufficient quantities in order to gain scientific insights and to connect with the buyer’s demands.
Contact: Katrien Bernaerts
Benefit
Maastricht University and Groningen University have the appropriate knowledge and equipment at their disposal to provide industrial grade samples from within their laboratories. If these perform sufficiently they can be put through an upscaling program. The industrial partners in the consortium are Suikerunie, Philips and Astron.