Page 4 - InnoRenew CoE International Conference 2023
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Environmental impact of phenol from residual water in
debarking processes and comparison with fossil -based phenol
Erwin M. Schau1*, Kelly Peters1,2, Andreja Kutnar1,2, Črtomir Tavzes1,2,
1 InnoRenew CoE, Livade 6a, 6310 Izola, Slovenia, erwin.schau@innorenew.eu; kelly.peters@innorenew.eu;
andreja.kutnar@innorenew.eu; crtomir.tavzes@innorenew.eu
2 Andrej Marušič Institute, University of Primorska; SI-6000 Koper, Slovenia, kelly.peters@innorenew.eu; andreja.kutnar@innorenew.eu;
crtomir.tavzes@innorenew.eu
* Corresponding author
This contribution presents a study on the potential environmental impact of substituting petrochemicals with
biochemicals from pulp and paper industrial by-products in the production of phenol (polyphenolic compounds)
and tannins. The forest -based industry generates a large volume of water from the debarking and the bark
pressing processes. Such water is polluted and needs to be cleaned and is considered a waste stream or low value
by-product. But this polluted water has the potential to be a renewable source of polyphenolic compounds. Life
Cycle Assessment (LCA) is used to evaluate the environmental feasibility of recovering polyphenolic compounds
and tannins from debarking water and bark press water, compared to traditional fossil-based methods of phenol
production. Three different routes are investigated for the recovery of these compounds, and their environmental
performance is assessed. The study provides valuable insights into the potential of industrial by-products as a
sustainable source of polyphenolic compounds and tannins, and the feasibility of their recovery using different
techniques. The results of the LCA can guide decision-making for up-scaled processes and provide a better
understanding of the environmental impact of the future biobased system of phenol production replacing fossil-
based phenol.
Keywords: debarking water, bark press water, phenol, tannin, life cycle assessment (LCA)
Acknowledgment: The authors gratefully acknowledge receiving funding from the European Commission
for funding the InnoRenew project (grant agreement #739574), under the H2020Widespread-2-Teaming
program, the Republic of Slovenia (investment funding from the Republic of Slovenia and the European Regional
Development Fund), the ARRS infrastructure program IO-0035 and project J4-1767.
4 13–14 SEPTEMBER 2023 I IZOLA, SLOVENIA
debarking processes and comparison with fossil -based phenol
Erwin M. Schau1*, Kelly Peters1,2, Andreja Kutnar1,2, Črtomir Tavzes1,2,
1 InnoRenew CoE, Livade 6a, 6310 Izola, Slovenia, erwin.schau@innorenew.eu; kelly.peters@innorenew.eu;
andreja.kutnar@innorenew.eu; crtomir.tavzes@innorenew.eu
2 Andrej Marušič Institute, University of Primorska; SI-6000 Koper, Slovenia, kelly.peters@innorenew.eu; andreja.kutnar@innorenew.eu;
crtomir.tavzes@innorenew.eu
* Corresponding author
This contribution presents a study on the potential environmental impact of substituting petrochemicals with
biochemicals from pulp and paper industrial by-products in the production of phenol (polyphenolic compounds)
and tannins. The forest -based industry generates a large volume of water from the debarking and the bark
pressing processes. Such water is polluted and needs to be cleaned and is considered a waste stream or low value
by-product. But this polluted water has the potential to be a renewable source of polyphenolic compounds. Life
Cycle Assessment (LCA) is used to evaluate the environmental feasibility of recovering polyphenolic compounds
and tannins from debarking water and bark press water, compared to traditional fossil-based methods of phenol
production. Three different routes are investigated for the recovery of these compounds, and their environmental
performance is assessed. The study provides valuable insights into the potential of industrial by-products as a
sustainable source of polyphenolic compounds and tannins, and the feasibility of their recovery using different
techniques. The results of the LCA can guide decision-making for up-scaled processes and provide a better
understanding of the environmental impact of the future biobased system of phenol production replacing fossil-
based phenol.
Keywords: debarking water, bark press water, phenol, tannin, life cycle assessment (LCA)
Acknowledgment: The authors gratefully acknowledge receiving funding from the European Commission
for funding the InnoRenew project (grant agreement #739574), under the H2020Widespread-2-Teaming
program, the Republic of Slovenia (investment funding from the Republic of Slovenia and the European Regional
Development Fund), the ARRS infrastructure program IO-0035 and project J4-1767.
4 13–14 SEPTEMBER 2023 I IZOLA, SLOVENIA
