SELECTIVELI

ABSTRACT

SELECTIVELI represents a strong BBI consortium, including full members Sappi, Idener, associated members Vito, Leitat and Sintef in addition to industrial partners Chimar and LCEngineering and leading experts in the field of preparative electrochemistry, University of Mainz. SELECTIVELI will provide proof of concept on the laboratory scale (at least TRL3) to demonstrate the potential for converting low cost lignosulfonate feedstocks (by-product from paper and pulp industry) into high value biosustainable chemicals through the following:

1. Development and optimisation of the electrochemical process to convert bio-based feedstock (lignosulfonates) into
   target monomers, some of which can be converted into polymers for study in further downstream processes.
2. Development and optimisation of downstream separation and purification processes to extract the target products and conversion of intermediate building block monomers (mixed phenolic derivatives) into higher value polymers
3. Modelling the process to (a) prepare process designs and scale up strategies for future industrial scale production and ensuring commercial viability (b) assessing energy requirements and proving the process is capable of benefitting
   from surplus energy and accommodating energy fluctuations.
4. Conducting a full life-cycle analysis to establish that a future biorefinery process can reduce environmental
   footprint of a value chain.