The main objective of the PROVIDES project is to develop a radically new, sustainable and techno-economically feasible pulping technology for wood and agro-based lignocellulose raw materials based on deep eutectic solvents (DES), a new class of natural solvents which have the unique ability to dissolve and thus mildly fractionate lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose at low temperature and atmospheric pressure for further processing into high added value materials and chemicals. The aim is to transfer recent scientific findings in novel lignin dissolving DES to process concept level that can be evaluated against current pulping processes. The technological breakthrough expected through the development of such new DES pulping technology could reduce process energy intensity by at least 40% and investment costs by 50% compared to traditional chemical pulping technology. In parallel, the development of efficient novel cellulose-dissolving DES and other DESs to process lignocellulose materials, starting with paper for recycling, is aimed at with focus on sustainability in selecting DES chemical components and technical and economic applicability of the solvent system. PROVIDES will create both fundamental and industry driven technological knowledge based on lab to bench/pilot scale experimentation, through: mapping and selection of most effective DES families; investigating processes and process technology options, including DES regeneration and recycling, in order to define full industrial processes that would isolate high quality cellulose/fibres, lignin and hemicelluloses; providing products for industrial evaluation; establishing technical data to evaluate industrial feasibility and integration; performing life-cycle oriented assessment of environmental and socio-economic performance; assessing impacts in terms of energy and cost reductions as well as new high added value applications PROVIDES could provide to the pulp and paper industry sector.

The GRETE project will tackle the challenges caused by increased global demand for sustainable textile fibres by offering new breakthroughs in the wood-to-textile value chain. The substitution of cotton by man-made cellulose fibres is also necessary because of sustainability issues. Currently the raw material base for the production of man-made cellulose fibres from wood is limited, as only highly processed dissolving grade pulps are used industrially. GRETE will introduce technologies by which paper grade pulps from softwood and hardwood sources can be used as raw material for man-made textile fibres. GRETE will also offer safe and sustainable solvent systems for the production of regenerated cellulose fibres, instead of the present ones which are based on toxic or explosive chemicals. The developed novel solvents are ionic liquids (IL’s), which will be non-toxic, recyclable and synthesized from low-cost industrially available chemicals. GRETE will also develop innovative technologies for chemical modification and enzymatic pre-treatment of pulps prior to cellulose dissolution. Chemical modification carried out either before or after dissolution and regeneration of pulps will bring chemical functionalities to fibres. The modifications either directly improve fiber properties (e.g. decreased fibrillation, improved fire resistance) or offer an easy route to further fibre processing. Improved dye adsorption and chemical reactivity will offer new options for dyeing and finishing treatments of the fibres, enabling e.g. the creation of a water-scarce end to the textile manufacturing value chain as well as open up the possibility for other targeted and water-scarce finishing treatments.