Extraction and Valorisation of Xylan and Other Hemicellulose Polysaccharides

To date much of the innovations related to the valorisation of lignocellulosic feedstocks has focused on the cellulose and lignin fractions. In most technologies hemicellulose is broken down in the process to either monomeric sugars (e.g. xylose) or their derivatives (e.g. furfural). However, hemicelluloses, when retained in the polymeric form, can have outstanding physical and chemical properties which make them suitable for incorporation in an array of consumer products, replacing less-sustainable product components and so allowing for greener market options for the consumer.

Celignis is the technical lead in the €6m Horizon Europe project EnXylaScope which focuses on the efficient extraction of xylan, the most abundant hemicellulose polysaccharide, and its subsequent modification to confer properties that make it suitable as an ingredient in a scope of consumer products. In the CBE/BBI project PERFECOAT Celignis is also working on extraction of xylan, from different feedstocks, so that it can ultimately be used as a binder in paints and coatings. We consider that integrating efficient methods for extracting hemicellulose polymers within the wider biorefinery process scheme will allow for higher-value products and a more sustainable and profitable process.

Our expertise in hemicellulose extraction is therefore relevant to a number of topics within the CBE-JU 2022 Work Programme, in particular JU-CBE-2022-R-01 (High performance bio-based polymers for market applications with stringent requirements) and JU-CBE-2022-R-05 (Sustainable fibres biorefineries feedstock).