Project
CHAMPION
The main objective of the European project CHAMPION is to develop new circular bio-based materials for use in detergents, industrial adhesives, and coatings for furniture and automotive interiors. To this end, residual and by-product streams from the agricultural sector will be used as raw materials (KIA LWV mission A, subtopic 3).
The main activities are the conversion of sugars from carbohydrate residues into bio-based building blocks, and using special chemistry to convert them without loss of carbon into new renewable materials that can replace current petrochemical materials.
Intended outputs of the project are new materials with very low environmental impact, through efficient use of bio-based raw materials, early toxicity screening ('safe-by-design'), and design of materials optimised for recycling ('circular-by-design') and (bio)degradation. Results will be disseminated through scientific articles, lectures and presentations, where possible patents, and through the pro-ject website etc.
Although the mentioned application areas investigated in this project are fairly specific (because linked to the markets of the affiliated industrial partners), the carbon-efficient technology ('aza-Michael chemistry') may be extended to a much wider range of applications and markets after the project's completion, such as recyclable/degradable polyurethanes, epoxy resins, etc.