Apply ligninases to resolve end-of-life issues of thermoset composite plastics

ended

BIZENTE project presents an innovative solution to resolve the end-of-life of thermoset composites based on the development of a new technology focused on a controlled enzymatic biodegradation. BIZENTE technology will contribute to decrease the amount of non-biodegradable polymers currently discharged to the environment or sent to landfill and incineration in at least a 40%. The solution will imply opening a biocatalytic process to new type of feedstock (3 thermoset resins and composites) not previously approached in the plastics value chain. BIZENTE will determine directed enzyme evolution strategies to improve ligninolytic oxidoreductases which have been selected as the most suited biocatalysts to degrade the three types of thermoset composites addressed in the project (epoxy, polyester and vinylester). Once this new technology has been optimised and scaled-up to a pilot environment, the biodegradation products will be valorised into new building blocks for the chemical industry. BIZENTE project will directly contribute to achieve SIRA’s in KPI1, KPI2 and KPI8. BIZENTE consortium involves 10 partners: 3 RTD (Aitiip, UCA and TuDelft), 5 SME (EvoEnzyme, BSP, SP, PLATA and ECRT), and 2 Large Companies (ACCIONA and AED), accounting to 1 BIC full member (BIOPHERE) and 3 associated (AITIIP, UCA, TUDELFT). It involves partners from 5 EU countries (ES, NL, FR, IT, DK). The 48-months proposed will comprise a total estimated budget of 3,182,571 €; being the 21,2% covered by consortium own contribution (in-kinds) and adding 223,764.5 € in additional activities during the project implementation and 2,350,000 € envisaged to upgrade TRL after the end of the project. Benefits will be significant in terms of EU growth (13,1%) and increasing jobs (16 direct, 1000 indirect) by promoting at least 2 new sector interconnections in the new created “enzymatic circular VC for composite materials”.