Did you know that sawdust from wood processing and organic waste from household could become the secret ingredients for making high-value chemicals? The LUCRA project is on a mission to transform these streams into something much more valuable than just firewood or landfill fodder.

The LUCRA Project: Giving Waste a Second Life

The LUCRA project, which stands for “SustainabLe sUCcinic acid production using an integRAted electrochemical bioreactor and renewable Feedstock,” is all about giving a second life to abundant and underutilized organic residues. These include the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and forest industry residues like sawdust. Instead of simply burning these biomasses for energy or sending them to landfills, LUCRA aims to convert them into bio-based succinic acid (bio-SA), a valuable chemical used in cosmetics, automotive, packaging, and the pharmaceutical industries.

Sawdust: Tiny Particles, Big Potential!

Sawdust is a byproduct of sawmilling and wood processing, and it turns out there’s quite a lot of it! Nordic countries alone produced 33 million cubic meters of softwood sawnwood in 2022, generating millions of tons of sawdust as a byproduct. It is typically collected and stored on-site at sawmills and are commonly used in other industries (such as paper mills or wood pellet manufacturers) or in landscaping and agriculture rather than being disposed of. Sawdust is generally available all year-round, making it a reliable feedstock for industrial processes.

However, there’s a catch! The price of sawdust is heavily influenced by renewable energy markets and the global wood trade. When demand for bioenergy spikes, sawdust prices can soar, making it less profitable for projects like LUCRA, which are developing a business case out of it. Additionally, sawdust contains around 50% water, so transporting it over long distances can be expensive and inefficient. That’s why sawdust processing facilities need to be close to where the wood is produced.

Not only is sawdust a valuable byproduct, but it also plays a crucial role in the circular economy. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Circular Economy Principles, materials should be circulated at their highest value. While burning sawdust for energy is common, using it to produce bio-SA creates much more value, benefiting industries ranging from automotive to cosmetics.

Why the Organic Waste from Your Trash Bin Deserves a Second Life

OFMSW includes food scraps, garden waste, and other biodegradable compounds. However, it’s not as simple as just picking it up and using it. Did you know that OFMSW contamination levels can be as high as 46% with plastics, metals, and other non-organic materials? This makes it difficult to process efficiently.

The seasonality of OFMSW is also a challenge. The amount and type of organic waste can vary significantly throughout the year. For example, winter often sees lower volumes of organic waste, while autumn is the most “wasteful” season. To make OFMSW a viable feedstock, households and businesses need to sort their waste properly—something the LUCRA project aims to address through awareness campaigns and direct stakeholder engagement.

Unlike sawdust, which is primarily produced in forest-rich areas, organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) is ubiquitous. This makes it an abundant resource, but its potential is often wasted through landfilling or incineration. By converting OFMSW into bio-SA, the LUCRA project offers a way to unlock the hidden value of everyday waste.

The Innovative Process Behind LUCRA

The LUCRA project doesn’t just collect waste; it transforms it using innovative hydrolysis (thermal and enzymatic) and fermentation methods.

These processes yield bio-SA, which can be captured using cutting-edge electrochemical extraction technologies.

In practical terms, this means that bio-SA produced by LUCRA can be used to make polyester-based polyurethane dispersions and resins, which have a wide range of industrial applications. The process will be optimized and scaled up from pilot to pre-industrial levels, demonstrating how waste materials can fuel a new wave of sustainable chemical production.

What’s Next?

The LUCRA project is moving from pilot- to pre-industrial-scale production of bio-SA. Real samples of OFMSW and sawdust waste will be sourced from FCC Medio Ambiente (Spain) and Boreal Bioproducts (Finland). These partners will dive deeper into the unique characteristics of these streams and outline the measures needed to ensure a continuous supply for the LUCRA process.

The initial findings are promising. Sawdust and OFMSW are available all year, and the supply chains can be streamlined with proper management. However, the next step is crucial: testing whether these waste materials have the right nutrients for fermentation processes. If they pass the examination, LUCRA project could revolutionize how we think about waste, contributing to a more sustainable and circular economy.

Stay tuned as LUCRA project continues its research and development, proving that with a bit of innovation, yesterday’s trash could become tomorrow’s treasure!

Key takeaways

1. Two types of feedstocks, one goal: LUCRA aims to turn sawdust and organic waste into valuable chemicals
2. Sawdust: Conditional pricing: It is available all year, but its price depends on renewable energy markets
3. OFMSW: Always around, but dirty: Organic waste is everywhere, but it needs to be much cleaner to be useful. Sorting is key!
4. The seasonal twist for OFMSW: The production changes with the seasons, autumn being the “wastiest” season and winter the lowest.
5. Sawdust has a market, OFMSW does not: While there is a strong demand for sawdust, nobody is fighting over OFMSW – yet!