Project

About the project

ELIOT aims to provide new innovative and green technologies for EoL of commonly used natural fibres and biobased resins with increased resource efficiency and fully align these biomaterials with the circular economy principles (Figure 1).
To this end, the project will propose and develop innovative solutions for the EoL of the new generation of biocomposites by:

Reviewing the current treatment technologies for conventional FRP composite waste
Evaluating their potential suitability to be applied to the biocomposite waste and selecting those treatment alternatives that appear as the most feasible
Tailoring the selected treatment technologies to the characteristics of biocomposites and testing them at laboratory scale
Demonstrating their technical feasibility and life-cycle sustainability under pre-industrial scale.

Different EoL approaches will be evaluated, including mechanical, thermal, chemical and biological methods for waste recovery and recycling. A comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of the EoL methods in terms of cost and environmental sustainability will be conducted.
ELIOT will set the basis for a wider uptake of biocomposite materials in the aircraft industry (and other industrial sectors using composite materials) by providing cost-effective methods for their EoL treatment.

Objectives

To achieve this main objective, the consortium will need to achieve the following specific technical targets:

1. Definition and development of potential recovery solutions for biocomposite waste from EoL aircraft

A preliminary definition of EoL methods for the biocomposites targeted in the project will be based on a comprehensive review of the tate-of-the-art technologies applied for the conventional FRP counterparts (as well as any other previous study dealing with EoL of biocomposites). The technologies that will be critically reviewed will include mechanical, thermal, chemical and biological methods. The proposed EoL methods will rely on those existing technologies that show some transferability potential for the treatment of biocomposite waste. These will be further developed and tailored to the specific needs of the target biomaterials (natural fibres and biobased resins), obtaining a list of potential EoL methods with higher level of characterisation (in terms of resulting products, production yields, expected costs, environmental loads, etc.).

2. Selection of the best EoL methods for biocomposite waste

The EoL methods defined for the biocomposites targeted in the project will be assessed against a set of feasibility criteria, including technical feasibility and scalability, cost effectiveness, potential marketability of the resulting products, environmental performance and circularity, alignment with policy framework, etc. A weighted decision matrix will be developed to compare the EoL alternatives with respect to the multiple criteria, which will be weighted according to their levels of importance. Multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) will thus be applied to rank the EoL methods based on their overall feasibility level.

3. Testing of the EoL methods for biocomposite waste at laboratory scale

The most promising EoL methods will be tested in laboratory, tailoring the methods to the specific characteristics of the biomaterials targeted in the project. A Design of Experiments (DoE) will be comprehensively defined for each EoL method and composite material to be tested, defining the parameters to be applied during each process step (samples, reagents and auxiliary materials, temperatures and pressures, processing times, etc.). These processing parameters will be monitored and optimised during laboratory trials based on the resulting output products, which will be fully characterised (in terms of yield, composition, purity, quality, etc.) and checked against the technical specifications for equivalent products in the market. Special attention will be given to the scalability of each method during the laboratory tests, considering up-scaling factors and carrying out techno-economic analysis and streamlined life cycle assessment (LCA).

4. Full-scale demonstration of the EoL methods for biocomposite waste

Among the EoL methods validated in laboratory, those showing the best results in terms of potential scalability will be demonstrated at a larger scale. The demonstration will involve the testing of each EoL method at pre-industrial scale using the pilot plants of project partners and samples of biocomposite panels with a size of 1 sqm. A target biocomposite will be selected (in agreement with the Topic Manager) for testing each EoL method at pre-industrial scale. The processing parameters will be monitored and optimised during the testing trials at pilot plant, collecting primary data to fine-tune the technoeconomic analysis and conduct a comprehensive LCA.

By reaching the objective and targets described above the consortium will contribute to reduce the environmental footprint of the aviation industry in the airframe parts that nowadays are manufactured with composites. Aviation must move towards more sustainable resources and solutions, with an industry that is clean, competitive, safe and secure.

Figure 2 - Funnel methodology followed in ELIOT.

Results

Consortium

AIMPLAS

València Parc Tecnològic Calle Gustave Eiffel, 4 46980 Paterna Valencia, ESPAÑA

https://www.aimplas.es

TNO

Anna Van Buerenplein, 1 Den Haag 2595 DA, Netherlands

https://www.tno.nl/en/

Team

Nora Lardiés

Senior consultant. Chemical Recycling Group
Project role: Technical coordinator.
Expert on landfill, incineration and thermal technologies: pyrolysis (conventional, fluidised-bed and microwave-assisted). nlardies@aimplas.es +34 663459064

Rajesh Mehta

Senior Consultant.
Climate, Air & Sustainability
Expert on gasification, solvolysis and dissolution. rajesh.mehta@tno.nl +31 621957530

Toon van Harmelen

Project role: Project advisor. toon.vanharmelen@tno.nl +31 652803663

Tom Ligthart

Expert sustainability assessment Climate, Air and Sustainability
Project role: LCA and sustainability expert tom.ligthart@tno.nl +31 615571118

Judith Kessens

Senior Project Manager
Climate, Air & Sustainability
Project role: Project Management TNO, Data Management, Dissemination & exploitation board judith.kessens@tno.nl +31 622374428

Sergio Fita

Project Manager at AIMPLAS
Project role: Project coordinator sfita@aimplas.es +34 663460764

Gallery

Eliot at media

Las empresas españolas trazan el círculo avanzado del reciclaje químico
01/12/2023
ABC
Biokomposite recyceln: Solvolyse oder Pyrolyse?
08/11/2023
Plastverarbeiter
Solvolyse beste Methode für das Recycling von Biokompositen aus der Luftfahrtbranche
08/11/2023
AIMPLAS Y TNO CONCLUYEN QUE LA SOLVÓLISIS ES EL MEJOR MÉTODO PARA EL RECICLADO DE LOS BIOCOMPOSITES DEL SECTOR AERONÁUTICO
13/09/2023
ADDIMAT
AIMPLAS y TNO concluyen que la solvólisis es el mejor método para el reciclado
28/06/2023
Reciclado de los biocomposites
09/06/2023
Revista de Aeronáutica y Astronáutica
ELIOT Project finds solvolysis best method for aerospace biocomposites recycling
05/06/2023
Solvolysis to recycle aeronautic biocomposites
30/05/2023
Bioplastics Magazine
Study test biocomposites recycling
24/05/2023
Reinforced Plastics - NW
Eliot project ends / Researchers laud solvolysis, pyrolysis reclaim technologies for aeronautics parts
18/05/2023
Aimplas and Dutch research center TNO have concluded a project evaluating the best way to recycle biocomposites for aerospace appllications.
12/05/2023
Reinforced Plastics
Study tests biocomposites recycling
12/05/2023
Reinforced Plastics
AIMPLAS i TNO conclouen que la solvòlisi és elmillor mètode per al reciclatge dels biocomposite delsector aeronàutic
10/05/2023
Concluye el proyecto ELIOT sobre reciclado de materiales en el sector aeronáutico
10/05/2023
Gestores de Residuos
Concluye el proyecto ELIOT sobre reciclado de materiales en el sector aeronáutico
10/05/2023
Santa Eulalia
La solvullisis es la mejor manera de reciclar los biocompuestos utilizados en aeronáutica
08/05/2023
Sustainable Plastics
AIMPLAS y TNO concluyen que la solvólisis es el mejor método para el reciclado de los biocomposites del sector aeronáutico
04/05/2023
AIMPLAS y TNO concluyen que la solvólisis es el mejor método para el reciclado de los biocomposites del sector aeronáutico
02/05/2023
Química y Sociedad
AIMPLAS lidera varios proyectos que buscan alternativas sostenibles frente a procesos tradicionales
02/05/2023
FEDIT WEB
AIMPLAS y TNO promueven el reciclado de los biocomposites del sector aeronáutico
29/04/2023
Factoria del futuro
Eliot project finds solvolysis best method for aerospace biocomposites recycling
28/04/2023
Study: Solvolysis best method for recycling biocomposites from aeronautics sector
27/04/2023
Recycling Magazin
AIMPLAS y TNO concluyen que la solvólisis es el mejor método para el reciclado de los biocomposites del sector aeronáutico
27/04/2023
Aimplas señala la solvólisis como el mejor método de reciclado de biocomposites
27/04/2023
INDUSTRY TALKS
AIMPLAS y TNO concluyen que la solvólisis es el mejor método para el reciclado de los biocomposites del sector aeronáutico
27/04/2023
Industria Ambiente
Aimplas y TNO definen la solvólisis como el mejor método para reciclar biocomposites del sector aeronáutico
27/04/2023
INTEREMPRESAS
LA SOLVÓLISIS ES EL MEJOR MÉTODO PARA RECICLAR BIOCOMPOSITES DEL SECTOR AERONÁUTICO, SEGÚN UN ESTUDIO
27/04/2023
Residuos Profesional WEB
ELIOT Project finds solvolysis best method for aerospace biocomposites recycling
26/04/2023
CW Composites World
Study by AIMPLAS and TNO concludes that solvolysis is the best method for recycling biocomposites from the aeronautics sector
26/04/2023
Jec Composites - Nw
ELIOT Project finds solvolysis best method for aerospace biocomposites recycling
26/04/2023
CW Composites World
AIMPLAS y TNO apuestan por la solvólisis para el reciclado de los biocomposites del sector aeronáutico
26/04/2023
AIRLINE92
Así es cómo la solvólisis está cambiando el reciclado de biocomposites
26/04/2023
AMBIENTE PLASTICO
AIMPLAS y TNO concluyen que la solvólisis es el mejor método para el reciclado de los biocomposites del sector aeronáutico
25/04/2023
Magazine Reciclado
Study by AIMPLAS and TNO concludes thatsolvolysis is the best method for recyclingbiocomposites from the aeronautics sector
25/04/2023
Jec Composites
End-of-life solutions for biocomposites: the ELIOT Project
01/11/2022
Jecmagazine composites
Biocomposites: Soluciones al final de su vida últil
31/05/2022
RETEMA
Biocomposites: Soluciones al final de su vida últil
31/05/2022
RETEMA - NewsLetter
Biocomposites: soluciones al final de su vida útil
13/05/2022
RETEMA
PROYECTO ELIOT: Biocomposites, soluciones al final de su vida útil
09/05/2022
Investígase o desenvolvemento de tecnoloxías de reciclado de biocomposites do sector aeronáutico
07/10/2020
SOGAMA
The ELIOT project will improve environmental sustainability in aeronautics by using new biocomposite recycling methods
23/09/2020
Bio-Based News
EU project seeks to recycle biocomposites
21/09/2020
Plasteurope
El proyecto Eliot mejorará la sostenibilidad medioambiental de la aeronáutica con nuevos métodos de reciclado de los biocomposites
16/09/2020
Interempresas PLASTICO
El proyecto Eliot mejorará la sostenibilidad medioambiental de la aeronáutica con nuevos métodos de reciclado de los biocomposites
16/09/2020
Interempresas AERONÁUTICA
El proyecto Eliot mejorará la sostenibilidad medioambiental de la aeronáutica con nuevos métodos de reciclado de los biocomposites
16/09/2020
Interempresas Reciclaje y Gestión de Residuos
Aimplas project develops biocomposite recycling methods
16/09/2020
CW Composites World
El proyecto ELIOT mejorará la sostenibilidad medioambiental de la aeronáutica con nuevos métodos de reciclado de los biocomposites
15/09/2020
METALMADRID
BIOCOMPOSITES EN AERONÁUTICA.
13/09/2020
La Razón
Recycling Biocomposites for Aeronautics Industry
12/09/2020
Bioplastics News
EU ELIOT project to develop new biocomposite recycling methods
11/09/2020
Bioplastics Magazine
A project to improve sustainability in aeronautics by using new biocomposite recycling methods
09/09/2020
Jec Composites
Proyecto ELIOT para el reciclado de biocomposites en aeronáutica
09/09/2020
Mundoplast WEB
El proyecto ELIOT mejorará la sostenibilidad medioambiental de la aeronáutica con nuevos métodos de reciclado de los biocomposites
08/09/2020
Química y Sociedad
EL PROYECTO ELIOT INVESTIGA TECNOLOGÍAS DE RECICLADO DE BIOCOMPOSITES DEL SECTOR AERONÁUTICO
08/09/2020
Residuos Profesional WEB
El proyecto ELIOT mejorará la sostenibilidad medioambiental de la aeronáutica
08/09/2020
Actualidad Aeroespacial
El proyecto ELIOT mejorará la sostenibilidad medioambiental de la aeronáutica con nuevos métodos de reciclado de los biocomposites
08/09/2020
Bioval
Proyecto ELIOT: nuevos métodos de reciclado de biocomposites al servicio de la aeronáutica
08/09/2020
Gestores de Residuos
AIMPLAS’ ELIOT project set to improve sustainability in aeronautics
07/09/2020
Ecosistent
More sustainability in aeronautics by using biocomposite recycling methods
07/09/2020
Recycling Magazin
AIMPLAS’ ELIOT project set to improve sustainability in aeronautics
07/09/2020
EPPM Online
-AIMPLAS’ ELIOT project set to improve sustainability in aeronautics
07/09/2020
Polyestertime
El proyecto ELIOT mejorará la sostenibilidad medioambiental de la aeronáutica con nuevos métodos de reciclado de los biocomposites
07/09/2020
FuturEnviro
The ELIOT project will improve environmental sustainability in aeronautics by using new biocomposite recycling methods
07/09/2020
REDIT ingles
El proyecto ELIOT mejorará la sostenibilidad medioambiental de la aeronáutica
07/09/2020
RETEMA

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme for the Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative under grant agreement No 886416.