Depoly2ols - Paving the Way for Sustainable Chemistry
Through cross-disciplinary expertise, the newly launched Depoly2ols project is dedicated to replace fossil-based aromatics in the chemical industry with new bio-based alternatives.
Depoly2ols is a three-year co-research project dedicated to developing innovative and sustainable methods for producing aromatic compounds from industrial lignins. The primary focus is on obtaining a well-defined and tailored dimer-tetramer aromatic fraction from Finnish and Nordic lignin feedstocks, which will be used in polymer-, resin-, and adhesive chemistry. By the end of the project, in December 2026, the aim is to have replaced fossil-based aromatics with more sustainable and bio-based alternatives.
The vast majority of aromatic compounds used by industry originate from fossil fuels. Through the launch of the Depoly2ols project, SHAPE recognizes the pressing need to shift away from fossil-based feedstocks in order to reduce environmental impacts. Lignin, a natural polymer found in wood and other plant materials, is the most abundant natural source of aromatic compounds and one of the non-fossil source practically available on a larger scale. By combining cross-disciplinary expertise and infrastructure, this unique R&D project presents a promising approach to future-proof sustainable chemistry.
The academic cooperation network comprises expertise from a wide area of lignin processing, such as Åbo Akademi University, BOKU University in Austria, Stockholm University in Sweden, and VITO - Flemish Institute for Technological Research NV, Belgium. Business members are Mirka Oy, Valmet Oyj, CH Bioforce Oy, UPM Oyj and Kiilto Oy.
For more information, please contact:
Monireh Imani
+358 50 438 3077
monireh.imani@mirka.com