CoBiCat - Integrated Biorefineries for Fuels and Bioplastics from Lignocellulosic Biomass

Within the CoBiCat project, we offer advanced expertise on the development of integrated biorefineries for the sustainable conversion of non-food lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels and biodegradable bioplastics. The project combines catalytic, physico-chemical and biological processes to fully valorise all biomass fractions following circular economy principles.

The approach focuses on agricultural residues and agro-industrial wastes such as spent coffee grounds, which are processed through mechanocatalysis, hydrolysis and catalytic depolymerisation to obtain fermentable sugars, lipids and lignin-derived aromatic compounds. These intermediates are subsequently transformed into bioplastics (PHB/PHBV) via bacterial fermentation, biodiesel through yeast-derived lipids, and sustainable aviation fuel-range hydrocarbons via catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of lignin monomers.

This expertise addresses key industrial challenges: reducing dependency on fossil resources, lowering production costs of bio-based materials, and enabling scalable, integrated valorisation routes suitable for industrial deployment. The technologies developed are compatible with existing process infrastructure and target applications in packaging, fuels, chemicals and materials manufacturing.

At Advanced Factories 2026, we offer industrial insight into process integration, scale-up strategies, catalyst and bioprocess optimisation, and opportunities for technology transfer. This expertise is especially relevant for companies in the chemical, energy, agro-food and materials sectors seeking to implement low-carbon, circular and resource-efficient production models.

We welcome discussions on pilot validation, industrial collaboration, and exploitation pathways for biorefinery technologies.