BIKIARIS LAB

The Fur4Sustain project is a European COST Action project. COST Actions are funded by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST). They are projects aiming at the creation of research networks, that allow the collaboration among scientists across Europe, thus giving impetus to research advancements and innovation.

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From cling film and clothing to satellites and spacecrafts, modern societies rely heavily on plastics. Plastics are polymers, i.e. long chain molecules constructed by the repetition of a single unit, the monomer. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is a well-known polymer used for plastic bottles, amongst other. Nowadays, most of these materials are fossil-based, in other words, their production depends on petroleum. With growing depletion of oil fields and fluctuating prices of crude oil such a dependence creates great concerns. Moreover, environmental issues are one of the major challenges of the 21st century and greener, more sustainable alternatives to fossil-based materials are demanded by consumers.

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In this context, a great deal of effort has been put into exploiting renewable feedstock, notably biomass, and especially low-value biomass waste. 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is an extremely promising bio-based monomer, derived from furfural or 5-hydroxymethyl furfural, which are isolated from biomass carbohydrates. For example, poly(ethylene furanoate), prepared from FDCA, is a bio-based polymer with comparable or better performances than PET. Despite the recent progresses witnessed in the synthesis of FDCA and FDCA-based polymers, the development of FDCA-based products is hampered by the lack of communication among research groups and the paucity of collaborations between Academy and Industry.

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The Fur4Sustain project aims at rallying individual research efforts scattered across Europe, gathering experts in FDCA synthesis, polymer science and materials development, along with producer, manufacture and recycling industrial stakeholders, as well as techno-economic viability experts. Through this project, new technologies for the synthesis of FDCA, especially from non-edible sources of carbohydrates, will be developed and novel furan-based polymers will be synthesized. In a “holistic” approach, taking into account FDCA synthetic routes and polymers development, as well as key technical, economic, environmental and social factors, the Action will identify and support solutions for the successful market introduction of sustainable, furan-based products. Finally, the Fur4Sustain action is an open platform for collaboration and networking, fostering the development of intersectorial knowledge.

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Action Chair: Dr Andreia F. SOUSA 
Action Vice Chair: Dr Nathanael GUIGO 
Action Science Officer: Dr Mónica PÉREZ-CABERO 
Administrative Officer: Ms Carmencita MALIMBAN 

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