SLICE - Biobased fuels and chemical building blocks converted from lignin

This project contributes to the goals of the European Green Deal and supports the ambition to drastically reduce CO₂ emissions within the (petro)chemical industry and maritime sector, focusing on the area around the Green Chemistry Campus in Bergen op Zoom and the port of Moerdijk.

Objectives

SLICE has two main objectives that together contribute significantly to the energy transition and the sustainability of the chemical and maritime sectors:

1. Demonstration of bio-based fuels and chemicals
   The project aims to upgrade crude lignin oils into bio-based (bulk) chemicals and fuels. These products will be tested as drop-in blends for existing naphtha crackers and combustion systems in shipping. At the same time, the circular development of the required processing technologies is pursued by converting residue streams into biomethanol. This enables the replacement of fossil resources without changing existing infrastructure.
2. Development of a Biobased Skills Learning Community
   SLICE aims to strengthen the regional labour market by building a training and knowledge community for technical staff from the (petro)chemical industry in the West North Brabant region. This increases biomass-related knowledge and skills needed for the transition to a bio-based economy.

TNO’s role

TNO provides expertise in biomass selection, treatment and fractionation into valuable components such as lignin oils, biochar and other biochemicals. By applying techniques such as gasification, pyrolysis, biomethanol synthesis and bio-oil upgrading, TNO maximises the potential of the feedstocks used.

The project focuses on developing cost-effective processes that isolate oligomeric and less condensed lignin, which can then be processed into a liquid bio-based crude oil platform. This platform is suitable for further refining into sustainable heavy fuel oil (HFO) blends and base chemicals such as aromatics (BTEX, phenols) and olefins.

Impact

SLICE contributes to a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, promotes economic diversification and supports a greener energy supply and logistics chain in West North Brabant. The project assists the chemical industry and shipping sector in the transition from fossil to bio-based feedstocks, while strengthening the local labour market through retraining and knowledge sharing.

Partners

SLICE is a consortium of the following partners:

• Vertoro – specialist in the production and valorisation of lignin oils.
• TNO – expertise in biomass processing, process technology and bio-based materials.
• Green Chemistry Campus – innovation hub and platform for sustainable chemistry in the Bergen op Zoom / Moerdijk region.