Biocon
Biocon’s reductive catalytic fractionation transforms lignocellulose into lignin oil, pulp, and sugars at pilot scale.
Biocon has pioneered the innovative reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) process to convert lignocellulose side streams into valuable bio-based products. This method integrates traditional pulp and paper processing with petrochemical expertise, leveraging heterogeneous catalysts to fractionate biomass efficiently.
The process yields refined lignin oil with tuneable aromatic building blocks, cellulose pulp, and an aqueous sugar stream. At the 200 L pilot biorefinery reactor, Biocon has successfully produced kg-scale samples from various feedstocks, including wood and agricultural residues, for further downstream product development in collaboration with industry.
Scaling up this technology presents several challenges. The transition from pilot to demonstration scale requires substantial investment and strategic partnerships. Biocon has secured initial funding for TRL6 pilot-scale infrastructure (2024–2027) with €6 million in capital expenditure and €2 million in operational costs, backed by post-COVID Recovery and Resilience funding for open innovation and infrastructure. However, the larger-scale demonstration (TRL7-8, 2028–-2035) demands an estimated €20–50 million in additional investment. Funding strategies include industry investors, venture capital, asset financing, and public funding through European programs (e.g. CBE Demo or Flagship projects, Innovation Fund Pilots, and EIB).
A key enabler of Biocon’s scale-up journey is its collaboration with TotalEnergies, a four-year partnership initiated in 2023 to optimise process design and develop a robust business case for commercialisation. The ultimate goal is to transfer the technology to a licensor for broader industrial deployment.
To foster the scaling of forest-based innovations across Europe, several lessons emerge. Policymakers have a responsibility to support biomass categorisation, regulate competing industries, and balance market demand with biomass availability. Strategic prioritisation based on life-cycle assessment and regulatory alignment can enhance investment confidence. Additionally, limiting wood incineration for energy can redirect biomass toward high-value applications in the circular chemical industry. Wood biorefineries, acting as intermediaries between forestry and chemical sectors, offer a sustainable pathway for advancing bioeconomy goals.
Contact information
Elien Lemmens
Innovation Manager Biocon – Pilot facility for sustainable chemistry, KU Leuven
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