Sustainable and circular chemistry
About this expertise
In short- Development of biobased chemicals & polymers
- End-of-life strategy
- Early-stage risk assessment
- Integrated expertise in organic chemistry, carbohydrate chemistry, catalysis & biocatalysis, polymer chemistry, electrochemistry, computational chemistry, analytical chemistry
Renewable chemicals and materials can be efficiently recycled or converted into new raw materials after use. We call this Circular by Design. Within our expertise in Sustainable & Circular Chemistry we aim to achieve sustainable chemistry. Renewable raw materials are converted into compounds and materials for the circular economy.
With our unique experience and knowledge in developing new biobased chemical products and the processes required to make them, we help businesses develop products that will replace the substances and materials currently made from fossil feedstocks.
- Bulk and platform chemicals such as HMF, bio-aromatics, adipic acid or glycol.
- Specialty chemicals such as surfactants, solvents, chelators or additives
- Chemical compounds such as FDCA, isosorbide or epoxies
- Polymers such as polyesters (PEF, PLA), polyamides or polyurethanes
- Modified biopolymers such as starch, cellulose, guar or pectin
We help businesses develop a clearly-defined End of Life (EOL) strategy for every chemical and material.
- For collected and recycled products, this means that it must be clear how frequently and in which manner an object such as a plastic bottle can be mechanically or chemically converted into a new bottle or a similar product.
- Products that we cannot or do not want to reuse or recycle (soap, detergent, paints, nappies) must be biodegradable, so that there are no emissions to or accumulation in the environment.
- In the case of biobased products, we consider the long carbon cycle. After all, products decompose to produce CO2, which is used by plants, and which can in turn be used to make new biobased products.
We help you conduct a risk analysis of new substances and materials at an early stage of the research project. Important components of this analysis are early toxicity screening and biodegradability. These make it clear early on in the process whether a product or material really is sustainable, and therefore ‘Safe by Design’.
We have broad pallet of disciplines and expertise available, including organic chemistry, carbohydrate chemistry, catalysis & biocatalysis, polymer chemistry, electrochemistry, computational chemistry and analytical chemistry, but also close cooperation with fermentation technology, molecular biology, biomass pretreatment technology, separation technology and process modelling.
Related feacilities (1)
Get in touch
Interested in the possibilities? Contact us for an informal conversation.
dr. DS (Daan) van Es
WR Onderzoeker