BIO - HArT

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Aromatics are major building blocks for today's chemical industry. Not only for producing fuels, basic chemicals and polymers, but also for creating polymer additives, colourings, flavourings and scents. Virtually all aromatic building blocks are still extracted from scarce fossil raw materials. It is therefore important to develop technology that replaces the current aromatic building blocks from the chemical industry with an alternative. Shale gas is an emerging alternative but, unlike the familiar fossil sources, it lacks aromatic compounds. ‘Biorizon Innovatie en Opschaling van Hernieuwbare Aromaten Technologie’ [Biorizon Innovation and Upscaling of Renewable Aromatics Technology] (BIO-HArT) contributes to the transition to a bio-based economy. The project is part of the Shared Research Center Biorizon, a joint TNO and VITO initiative located on the Green Chemistry Campus, a centre for open chemical innovation in Bergen op Zoom (NL). Process setups are planned for Ghent, Antwerp, Bergen op Zoom and Geleen. These locations are complementary and will each be deployed for their own expertise. Personnel and knowledge will be exchanged between locations. By supporting Bio-HArt, the interregional Flemish/Dutch initiative Interreg Vlaanderen-Nederland is making a great contribution to the further development of the border region as a prime location for the transition to a more sustainable, bio-based economy and a more efficient use of resources.

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