HEMICELLULOSES

Winning project of the 2025 call for projects.

OBJECTIVE

The project aims to develop sustainable processes combining chemical and biochemical steps for the valorization of wood hemicelluloses, which are currently largely underused and mostly burned in the pulp and paper industry.

APPROACH

Hemicelluloses account for 20–30% of lignocellulosic biomass and represent a rich source of high-value sugars and oligosaccharides. The project focuses on:

• Processes compatible with existing biorefineries
• The production of target sugars (e.g. xylose, mannose) for chemical and food applications
• The generation of prebiotic oligosaccharides, competitive with commercial prebiotics

IMPACT

The project seeks to convert an underexploited wood by-product into functional ingredients and chemical intermediates, supporting a circular and sustainable bioeconomy and improved use of forest biomass resources.

Project duration:
2026 - 2030

Scientific supervisor:
Christine CHIRAT (INP GRENOBLE)

Partner institutions