SPLENDOR
Each year, Europe’s pulp and paper industry generates millions of tonnes of black liquor, an energy-rich but underused byproduct rich in lignin. Until now, converting it into valuable chemicals has required complex, costly processes. In this context, the EU-funded SPLENDOR project is pioneering a one-step, catalyst-free technology that turns black liquor directly into high-value bio-aromatics like vanillin and syringol, while recycling valuable inorganic chemicals back into the mill.
A six-month trial of a 250 L/h prototype in an operational pulp mill will pave the way for a full-scale 5 000 L/h system. By integrating production on-site and developing new industrial uses, SPLENDOR aims to cut 800 000 tonnes of CO2 annually, boosting EU sustainability.
Objective
SPLENDOR aims to demonstrate a groundbreaking one-step depolymerization technology that efficiently converts lignin from black liquor, a pulping industry byproduct, into valuable aromatic chemicals, without the need for pre-treatment, additional chemicals, or catalysts. This process integrates seamlessly into pulp mills, enhancing scalability and cost-efficiency. It achieves complete conversion of lignin into bio-aromatic monomers, dimers, and oligomers, while recycling inorganic chemicals back to the mill in a zero-waste approach.
SPLENDOR supports a circular economy by converting black liquor into high-value bio-based chemicals, improving resource efficiency, and boosting the European chemical industry's economic viability. By reducing reliance on fossil-based chemicals and integrating production at the lignin source, SPLENDOR enhances European competitiveness and reduces transport-related emissions. The project complies with EU safety regulations and REACH standards, emphasizing safety, sustainability, and environmentally friendly products. Upon commercialization SPLENDOR is expected to save over 800,000 tons of CO2 annually, advancing Europe’s climate goals and circular economy targets. The monomers, dimers and oligomers resulting from this refinery will be validated in several applications.
The task of Maastricht University is to develop and characterize lignin based resins for waterproofing coatings, starting from depolymerized lignin fractions developed in SPLENDOR. We will modify lignin with functional groups via organic chemistry and develop crosslinking strategies that enable recycling (so called covalent adaptable networks). Next to chemical analysis of the materials, study of the material characteristics via rheology, DMA, tensile testing etc. is an important part of the job. Screening of the properties of the lignin based resins in coating applications will also be done, in close collaboration with industrial partners of the SPLENDOR consortium.
Partners
Universiteit Gent
Projectcoordinator
Nova Biochem Ltd
UPM-Kymenne OYJ
Rise research institutes of Sweden AB
The University of Nottingham
Strane Innovation
Maastricht University
Specialty Operations France
Soprema
Hansen & Rosenthal GMBH & CO. KG
