Phenol-formaldehyde resins (PF resins), have been established as the most commonly used adhesive resins for the production of composite wood products, i.e., particleboards, plywood, MDF, etc. However, these resins contain two oil-derived compounds, which are also well known to be harmful compounds to human health and the environment. Lignocellulosic biomass, which is an abundant and unexploited resource, is considered as a promising alternative resource of both phenol and aldehyde monomers. One of the main components of biomass is lignin, that due to its phenolic structure has already been proven capable of substituting petroleum-based phenol in PF resins.

CHIMAR has developed such technology and holds a leading position in the European and international market in this field.

The Subcontractor (Department of Chemistry, AUTH), has significant experience in the processing and utilization of residual biomass towards chemicals and high added value products as well as in the development of polymeric nanocomposite materials.

Both partners are collaborating and combine expertise towards:

1. WP1 – Development/Optimization of the selective fractionation of biomass for the isolation of lignin and hemicellulose (WP1)
2. WP2 – Development/Optimization of the conversion of lignin and hemicellulose to phenolic and furanic compounds/monomers
3. WP3 – Development of processes and technology for the production of new bio-based resins from phenolic and furanic compounds/monomers derived from lignocellulosic biomass and their application in making composite wood-based panels
4. WP4 – Techno-economic evaluation, exploitation and life cycle analysis (LCA)
5. WP5 – Innovation activities

List of Publications-Conferences:

1) A. G. Margellou, C. P. Pappa, D. Moutousidis, E. Athanasiadou, K. S. Triantafyllidis, Hydrothermal pretreatment and fractionation of agricultural lignocellulosic waste biomass towards furanics and lignin-based chemicals, THESSALONIKI 2021, 8th International Conference on Sustainable Solid Waste Management, 23-25/6, 2021 (poster, online).

2) Electra Papadopoulou, Eleftheria Athanasiadou, Dimitris Moutousidis, Christina P. Pappa, Antigoni G. Margellou, Konstantinos S. Triantafyllidis, Green phenol formaldehyde (PF) resins for plywood production by utilizing lignin fast pyrolysis oils, 5th EuChemS Conference on Green and Sustainable Chemistry, Thessaloniki, Greece, 26-29 September 2021 (poster, online).

3) C. Pappa, A. Margellou, E. Papadopoulou, C. Markessini, K. Triantafyllidis, Catalytic condensation of phenolic and furanic biomass-derived monomers in the production of bio-based PF resols, 6th Green and Sustainable Chemistry Conference, Elsevier, 16-18 November 2021 (poster, online)

4) Triantafyllidis K., Margellou A., Rekos K., Kavoukis  S., Pappa C., Fotopoulos A., Fast pyrolysis of lignin towards aromatics, phenolics and crude bio-oils, 30rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, Marseille, France,  9-12 May 2022, Online.

5) Triantafyllidis K., Margellou A., Zormpa F., Kavoukis S., Pappa C., Fotopoulos A., “Catalytic upgrading of lignin fast pyrolysis oil towards alkyl-phenols, BTX aromatics and cyclo-alkanes”, ACS Spring 2022, San Diego, CA, March 20-24 2022, Online.

6) Pappa C.P, Torofias S.A, Margellou A.G, Papadopoulou E, Markessini C., Triantafyllidis K.S., “Bio-based P-F resins for wood-based panels by substituting phenol and formaldehyde with lignin derived phenolics and biomass-based furfural”, 9th IUPAC International Conference on Green Chemistry, Athens, Greece, 5-9 September 2022

7) Α. Μαργέλλου, Ι. Τζελέπη, Σ. Τοροφίας και Κ. Τριανταφυλλίδης, “Ταχεία πυρόλυση λιγνινών προς παραγωγή φαινολικών/αρωματικών βιο-ελαίων”,16o Πανελλήνιο Συμπόσιο Κατάλυσης, Χανιά, 20-22 Οκτωβρίου 2022.