SugarPot

Project summary

The SugarPot project aims to elucidate the various anhydrosugar formation mechanisms during pyrolysis and to optimise the lignocellulosic biomass pre-treatment and pyrolysis technology for a high yield of recoverable platform chemicals.

The specific scientific objectives of the project are related to the thermochemical decomposition of cellulose and the equilibrium between monosaccharide derivatives and their isomers as pyrolysis products under different pre-treatment conditions, as well as the extraction and purification of the obtained products. A strong emphasis will be put on the greenness of the proposed methods, from analytical to preparative. To achieve the goals of the proposal, the conditions of pre-treatment of different biomass types and reference carbohydrates will be investigated by analytical pyrolysis and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Further on, bio-oil samples with an optimised anhydrosugar yield will be obtained in a continuous flow pyrolysis reactor. The bio-oil will be characterised by a combination of modern chemical analytical methods, and then separated into fractions to recover specific products.

The technologies will be developed in line with a biorefinery approach, to maximally add value to secondary forestry biomass, and to reduce wastes, which is an important contribution to the Latvian RIS3 field “Knowledge-intensive bioeconomy”.

Call: Specific Objective 1.1.1 “Strengthening of Research and Innovation Capacities and Introduction of Advanced Technologies in the Common R&D System” of the European Union's Cohesion Policy Programme for 2021-2027.

Activity: 1.1.1.9 “Post-doctoral Research”

Project duration:  36 months.

Total eligible costs of the project: 184 140 EUR, including funding from the European Regional Development Fund in amount of 85 % – 156 519 EUR.

Project partners

• Leading partner/coordinator: Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry
• Cooperation partner: University of Copenhagen