BioMatNet Item: FAIR-CT97-3884 - CTVO-NET: Chemical-technical utilisation of vegetable oils

FAIR-CT97-3884
CTVO-NET: Chemical-technical utilisation of vegetable oils

Contacts
Further Information

	Type of Project	Concerted Action
	Contract No	FAIR-CT97-3884
	Total Cost	400,000 ECU
	EC Contribution	400,000 ECU
	Start Date	01/04/98
	Duration	30 Months

CTVO-NET: Chemical-technical utilisation of vegetable oils

Objectives

The European Union is one of the main players in the world market for natural fats and oils. The annual consumption of natural fats and oils in chemical and technical applications amounts to 2.6 million tons in Europe. Fats and oils and their derivatives can be found in a wide range of industrial and consumer products. The European Commission and several Member States have realised the importance of this sector, and support research and development activities along the whole processing chain. To find new market outlets for natural fats and oils and especially vegetable oils, in existing and new applications, requires a better coordination of research efforts and more exchange of information on a European level. In more detail, the 30 months project has the following objectives:

linkage of R&D activities on national and EU level related to the production and utilisation of vegetable oils in the chemical-technical sector
informing the potential user of the results of national and EU-funded research activities in this field.
identification of industrial needs in this sector, in an effort to increase the utilisation of European vegetable oils in established and new applications
determination of ecological benefits of vegetable oil based products, in established and new applications
definition of future research needs in the field of chemical-technical utilisation of vegetable oils

Technical Approach

The major means to achieve the objectives will be sectorial workshops, including experts from all European countries, as well as coordinators from relevant EU and nationally funded projects. A final conference will amalgamate the most important conclusions of the different sector groups. The following sector groups, consisting of experts from universities, research institutes and industry, are envisaged: Paints and coatings Chair: Ian Bartle, ACTIN (UK); Lubricants and hydraulic fluids Chairs: Paolo Bondioli, SSOG (I) & Amaya Igartua, TEKNIKER (E); Surfactants and cosmetics Chair: Monika Hagen, FNR (D); New applications for vegetable oils (e.g. plastics) Chair: Finn Rexen, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries (DK); Valorisation of by-products Chair: Sylvain Claude, ONIDOL (F); Biotechnology and industrial utilisation of vegetable oils Chair: Hans Marvin, CPRO-DLO (NL).

Results from these workshops will be published as working papers and will also be available on Internet. In addition, the project will be linked with other EU funded networks, such as NF-2000 and IENICA.

Results to Date

The CTVO-net workshop series has commenced with the first workshop on surfactants, organised by FNR, in September 1998 in Gülzow (Germany). The workshops of the other sector groups are in preparation. The CTVO-net database is expanding. A CTVO-net poster has been exhibited at several conferences.

By the end of 1998, Four Workshops had been held.

Lubrication (copyright Fuchs Petrolub AG)

Contacts

Coordinator

Birger KERCKOW / Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe eV FNR / GERMANY

EC Scientific Officer

Ciarán MANGAN / European Commission - DG Research Quality of Life Programme - Unit B1.2 / BELGIUM

Participant