As part of the BIOSAFIRE project, CRCF has successfully carried out laboratory-scale water extraction and solvent purification of spruce bark, using raw materials supplied by VTT.
After optimizing key parameters such as temperature, extraction time, solid-to-liquid ratio and solvent composition, the water extraction process achieved a 16% yield, close to the theoretical maximum of 20%, confirming the efficiency of the method for polyphenol recovery.
The purification step, with yields above 80%, provided a strong basis for future scale-up.
This optimization benefited from SILVATEAM’s extensive experience with tannin extraction from other biomass sources, highlighting the importance of avoiding excessively high temperatures to preserve polyphenol quality.
Overall, the results confirm:
- The technical feasibility of the extraction and purification process
- The readiness for industrial implementation using existing facilities
- The availability of promising bio-based feedstocks for next steps in nitrogen modification and performance testing of tannin-based flame retardants
These advances support BIOSAFIRE’s ambition to develop renewable, high-performance flame-retardant solutions for safer and more sustainable materials.
👉 More results coming soon — stay tuned!
What is BIOSAFIRE all about?
BIOSAFIRE will develop and upscale innovative products upgrading nature’s best fire retardants (FRs): lignins and tannins. To ensure that these novel products are safe and sustainable, while retaining their desired technological functionality, they will be thoroughly assessed by applying the SSbD framework at different stages of their development and the results will be iteratively fed into the further design and optimisation of the technologies. Involving the full material value chain, these flame retardants will be upscaled to TRL7 and demonstrated in five different applications.
Excited for the journey ahead and the positive impact we’ll create together!
