ZERO EMISSION BIOCHEMICAL AND RENEWABLE ADDITIVES
ZEBRA LIFE consortium during the Kick off meeting at CENER (Sarriguren, Navarra)
WHAT IS ZEBRA LIFE?
CENER has developed a pioneering thermo-oxidative depolymerization process to extract high value added bioaromatic compounds with high antioxidant activity from lignin that can be used to substitute the existing fossil fuel-based additives in the market for different applications (rubber, fuels, lubricants, food industry, and cosmetics). The ZEBRA-LIFE project addresses two important objectives:
Increase the renewable energy share and decarbonisation in the pulp and paper industry
Reduce the environmental and health impacts caused by the production and use of synthetic fossil additives in multiple industrial products.
The ZEBRA LIFE project started in November 2022 and will run for four years. It has received funding from the European Union’s LIFE programme under grant agreement number 101074460.
why is ZEBRA LIFE TECHNOLOGY VALUABLE?
- Europe is the second largest producer of pulp and paper in the World. In 2019 it produced 38 million tonnes which represented 21% of the world paper production. This industry produces a significant amount of black liquor (BL), a byproduct which is predominantly burnt for energy recovery.
- 35-45% of BL composition is lignin, a natural polymer. Lignin is composed of aromatic units, which can be extracted from BL and, after a series of conversion stages, used as substitute for synthetic aromatic compounds in various industries including, cosmetic, food, fuel, lubricants and rubber .
Lignin extracted from black liquor (CENER)
ADVANTAGES
There are currently no commercial technologies for the cost-effective extraction of aromatics from lignin. Current technologies have either got stuck at non-commercial scales or are focused on low value-added materials, making it unprofitable for the paper manufacturers to invest in the infrastructure needed to extract black liquor from lignin.
The technology that has been developed for the ZEBRA-LIFE project enables paper mills to valorise their black liquor by-product in the form of a natural antioxidant (AOx) and UV filter product to create a new circular value chain. Also is extremely attachable to current pulp and paper industrial plants, due to the similar feeding and release aqua-inorganic streams.
The ZEBRA-LIFE solution will create industrial symbiosis and create new circular value chains, using resources/by-products across industrials sectors.
ZEBRA LIFE PILLARS
IMPACTS
ZEBRA-LIFE technology enables paper mills to valorise their black liquor by-product based on lignin in the form of a natural antioxidant and UV filter product to create a new circular value chain.
Know more features
The potential impacts of ZEBRA LIFE project are:
ZEBRA LIFE products (CENER)
ZEBRA LIFE WORKPLAN
Scale the chemical depolymerisation and fractionation technology up to a pre-commercial scale (20Kg/h lignin processing) (TRL 7).
To produce and test bioaromatic compounds (ZEBRA LMW and ZEBRA MMW) specifically formulised as antioxidant and UV-filters in a series of selected applications to substitute synthetic additives and create a circular value chain based on industrial symbiosis.
Develop the technical cost benefit analysis and business case for pulp & paper manufacturers.
Prepare the technology for full commercial exploitation and replication across Europe.
Ensure all stakeholders and community members are involved in the conversation about the ZEBRA-LIFE project.
ZEBRA LIFE CONSORTIUM
Cener
Project coordinator.
Technology developer.
Prototyping And demonstrator.
Environmental assessment of the Value chain.
Inveniam
Supporting project management.
Communication and dissemination leader.
Environmental impact and monitoring.
Business model and exploitation strategy
Smurfit Kappa Navarra
Lignin provider for the pilot plant.
Technoeconomic analysis for the validation of the facility.
Development and execution of exploitation activities.
Asociacion de investigacion de industrias carnicas del principado de asturias
Utilisation of the lignin fractions in food sector applications
Centro Tecnológico Riojano
Utilisation of the lignin fractions in rubber applications
Roka Furadada
Utilisation of the lignin fractions in cosmetic applications (UV filter, antioxidant and preserving agent)
Repsol
Utilisation of the lignin fraction in fuel and lubricants applications.
Bioquochem
Integration of an in-line monitoring system into the pilot plant to control the antioxidant activity during production.
Antioxidant characterization of enduser products.
Latest news
ZEBRA-LIFE kicks off, a project to produce renewable origin antioxidants from the pulp and paper industry by-products.
Last November, the Centro Nacional de Energías Renovables (CENER) launched a new project, with the objective to develop a novel technology to take advantage of the black liquor of the pulp and paper industry…
Know more->
ZEBRA-LIFE - Zero Emission Biochemican and Renewable Additives
CENER has developed a pioneering thermo-oxidative depolymerization process to extract high value added bioaromatic compounds with high antioxidant activity from lignin that can be used to substitute the existing fossil fuel-based additives in the market for different applications…
Know more->
Lignin – ZEBRA-LIFE's raw material
This week we start with Lignin, the project’s raw material, the second most abundant organic substance in plants after cellulose which constitutes 30% of the non-fossil organic carbon in nature. But what do you know about Lignin?
In this blog post we will explain more about this natural raw material that offers a great source of aromatic molecules that can replace those derived from fossil sources…