Processing of the side streams of forest bioeconomy into value added products (MEBIP) project which is funded by the Council of Oulu Region develops separation methods for utilizing forest bioeconomy side streams. The investigated side streams are coniferous bark, branches, needles and sawdust. The investigated separation methods in the project are supercritical carbon dioxide extraction in batch mode, a solvent extraction process for separating tannins from coniferous bark, a method for separating lignin from sawdust and continuous supercritical carbon dioxide extraction.
The MEBIP project aims to
1) Develop and pilot new process solutions for the utilization of forest bioeconomy side streams
2) Build new value chains for the utilization of the side streams of forest bioeconomy companies
3) Increase collaboration between research and development organizations in Northern Finland to develop and optimize new bioeconomy products and production processes
4) Plan business-driven RDI projects for the utilization of the results
The project also studies the chemical composition of extracts obtained with the separation methods mentioned above. Also, bioactivities of the extracts are tested using antimicrobial activity and antioxidativity tests and cell tests. Based on these results, the project surveys the utilization targets of the technologies being developed and plans possible value chains that can be utilized, for example in the planning of business-driven follow-up projects. The project also develops the logistic chains of side streams that are used as raw materials, in consideration of the preservability of the raw materials. During the project, a collaboration network between RDI actors in Northern Finland will be built which supports the growth of the forest bioeconomy.
The project is implemented as an interregional collaboration project by the University of Oulu’s Unit of Measurement Technology (MITY) in Kajaani, the Chemical Process Engineering unit (CPE) in Oulu and the Environmental and Chemical Engineering unit (ECE) in Kajaani and Oulu, as well as the Lapland University of Applied Sciences. The project is coordinated by the Kajaani unit. The operational area of the project includes the regions of Kainuu, Northern Ostrobothnia and Lapland.
The project is funded by the Council of Oulu Region from the EU’s Just Transition Fund (JTF) from the Innovation and Skills in Finland 2021–2017 programme.
