DIBANET: Collaboration Between Ireland and Brazil in Biofuels Research Dr JJ Leahy – Carbolea, University of Limerick Prof. Victor Teixeira – Federal Uni. Rio de Janeiro Dr Daniel Hayes – Celignis Limited

Carbolea Research Group Biochar and Soils 27 members focused on the non-biological methods for obtaining value from biomass. Heterogeneous Catalysis Pyrolysis + Gasification Bio-Oil Upgrading Chemical Conversion Prior to 2009 – history of collaborations with Brazilian organisations: EMBRAPA Rio + Sao Carlos (Terra- Preta, soil); Uni. Of Curitiba, USP (Sao Carlos).

FP7 Call Energy (2008): “Enhancing international cooperation between the EU and Latin America in the field of biofuels” Any Latin American country could participate. Preference for countries with S&T agreements with EU (Argentina, Chile, Brazil)

Preparation of Proposal Two-stage call: 1 st – 15 page proposal, 2 nd 115 pages. First Stage – identification of potential partners via existing contacts and internet/journal searches. Brazil important due to biomass potential (bagasse). Second Stage – visit potential partners in Brazil (EI FP7 co-ordinator grant) and optimise proposal.

DIBANET “The Production of Sustainable Diesel-Miscible Biofuels from the Residues and Wastes of Europe and Latin America” €3.7m, 42 months, co-ordinated by Carbolea (UL). 13 partners, 5 from Europe and 8 from Latin America (5 from Brazil).

DIBANET Consortium The best expertise from Europe and Latin America

Cellulose Pulp Hemicellulose + Lignin (Soluble) Pretreatment Acid Hydrolysis Levulinic Acid (258 kg) Flash Lignin (180 kg) Furfural (127 kg) Formic Acid (102 kg) No Grinding Required Residues (90 kg) 1 Tonne of Biomass Residues (75 kg) Combustion Pretreatme nt Products DIBANET Products Downstrea m Conversion Heat + Power Value-Added-Chemicals Biofuels Catalytic Conversion (UFRJ) Bio-Products (487 kg chemicals kg lignin)

Brazilian Partner Roles Analysis of biomass, development of rapid (online) analytical methods Thermochemical treatment and use of residues Catalytic conversions of products Evaluation of process, products and markets

Project Management Unfamiliarity with Brazilian partners on FP7 bureaucratic and evaluation procedures (PICS, LEARs, grant payments, depreciation). DIBANET encouraged cross-region collaboration: 2 Latin Americans undertook full-PhDs in Europe. Summer school in Brazil. Networking days in Brazil and Greece. Biomass analysis database for Europe and Brazil. Multiple visits to work in partner’s laboratories.

PEQ/COPPE UFRJ – second largest Brazilian university. Largest catalysis group in Brazil. DIBANET encouraged collaboration with UL in the development of catalysts for levulinic acid transformation into fuel additives. There was an exchange of students (6 months) between the two parties. Different accounting practices to EU Research Programmes (FP7/H2020). No national contact point for assistance in FP7/H2020 procedures.

Daniel Hayes - 2 Years in Brazil Based in CTC (Piracicaba, Sao Paulo). Knowledge transfer of biomass analysis techniques from Carbolea. Developed rapid analysis methods for Brazilian biomass. Also assisted personnel from UNICAMP. Issues: High costs of imports (60% tax rate) and bureaucracy of import procedures also problematic. Brazilian customs delays meant some project Deliverables were not met on time. Exchange of personnel bureaucratic.

DIBANET Outputs Major advances in chemical treatment of biomass (Carbolea). Patent in biomass pre-treatment filed in Europe and Brazil (Carbolea). Significant improvements in catalyst performance (UFRJ). Interest shown in commercialising process in Brazil (Petrobras). Online deployment in a sugar mill of biomass analysis technology developed in project (CTC). Sustainability assessment of process residues as soil amenders (EMBRAPA). Rapid analysis methods for Brazilian feedstocks. 7 PhDs (5 in Europe, and 4 in Latin America). Close relationships formed between UL and Brazilian partners.

New Spin-Out Company Irish company spun-out from DIBANET research at Carbolea. Service – laboratory analysis of biomass samples. Commercialises advances in rapid biomass analysis. Enterprise Ireland and Local Irish Enterprise Office assisted formation and development. The formation of companies and commercialisation of research projects is a major target of FP7/H2020.

Future H2020 Collaboration Energy (2016): “Development of next generation biofuel technologies” “Demonstration of the most promising advanced biofuel pathways” “International Cooperation with Brazil on Ethanol development” We are eager to cooperate with Brazilian partners in future calls.

Dr JJ Leahy, Carbolea, University of Limerick Prof. Victor Teixeira – Federal University Rio de Janeiro peq.coppe.ufrj.brpeq.coppe.ufrj.br Dr Daniel Hayes – Celignis Limited