The CAT-REN Group of the Instituto de Tecnología Química (UPV-CSIC) is taking part in BioSMART_H2020, a new European project aimed at developing next-generation biorefineries capable to transform lignocellulosic and aquatic biomass to produce sustainable transport fuels, chemicals, and biomaterials.
Through innovative technologies and process integration, BioSMART_H2020 focuses on the complete conversion of lignocellulosic and aquatic biomass and the side-streams generated within the biorefinery into high-value products, enabling more efficient and circular processes that could reduce waste generation by up to 90%. These innovations are particularly relevant for hard-to-decarbonize sectors such as aviation and maritime transport.
Within the project, the CAT-REN Group leads the valorization of lignin and humins through selective catalytic depolymerization combined with hydrogenation and hydrodeoxygenation processes. This work builds on the patented CATDEPOL-HDO technology, which enables the production of lignin-derived oils that can be upgraded into marine-grade fuels.
BioSMART_H2020 has a strong international character and brings together 11 research and industrial partners from 6 countries (the Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia, Germany, the United Kingdom, and India), consolidating a European network focused on the development of innovative solutions for a more circular and sustainable bioeconomy.


🔗 More information: https://lnkd.in/enbV-X3t

📸 From left to right: Marcelo Domine (Responsible researcher of the project at ITQ), Lucia Camarena Peiró, Claudia Fernández, José Manuel López Nieto, Gustavo J. Chacón-Rosales

🚀 CAT-REN Group from Instituto de Tecnología Química (UPV-CSIC) joins the launch of the Horizon Europe project BioSMART.

Past Wednesday november 26th, members of CAT-REN Group of Instituto de Tecnología Química (UPV-CSIC) participated in the Kick-off Meeting of BioSMART, an ambitious Horizon Europe project that will develop next-generation zero-waste biorefineries to convert lignocellulosic and aquatic biomass into SAF, marine fuels, high added-value chemicals, and advanced biomaterials.

At CAT-REN Group we are proud to lead two key Work Packages within the project:
🔬 WP4 – Integral Valorisation of Lignin & Humins
We will develop selective catalytic depolymerisation/HDO processes to transform lignin and humins fractions into advanced marine fuels and high-performance biomaterials, contributing to a fully circular biorefinery concept.
📢 WP6 – Communication, Dissemination & Exploitation
We also coordinate the project’s impact strategy, ensuring strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and effective pathways for future industrial exploitation.

BioSMART brings together 11 partners from 6 countries (Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia, Germany, UK, and India), strengthening EU-India collaboration and advancing sustainable technologies for the green transition.
👉 Follow us for updates on our work within BioSMART.

Participation of Marcelo E. Domine (CAT-REN, ITQ-UPV-CSIC) in the XXIV Argentine Congress on Catalysis (CAC 2025), 29–31 October, San Luis, Argentina
On Thursday, 30 October, Marcelo E. Domine had the opportunity and honor to participate in the roundtable “Challenges and opportunities of future fuels” together with María A. Jaworski (Y-TEC), Nicolás M. Bertero (INCAPE, UNL-CONICET), and Eduardo López (PLAPIQUI, UNS-CONICET) during the XXIV CAC 2025 held in San Luis, Argentina.
It was a highly enriching session, featuring high-level scientific and technical presentations, discussions, and a constructive exchange of ideas, all in an atmosphere of camaraderie and deep respect.
He extends his sincere gratitude to the Congress Organizing Committee, especially Luis E. Cadús, Bibiana Barbero, and M. Roxana Morales, for the invitation and their outstanding hospitality throughout the event.

Our research work entitled “Dehydration of Xylose to Furfural catalyzed by Highly Stable W-Nb-O Mixed Oxides Bronzes” has been recently published in Applied Catalysis A: General journal. This work is part of the PhD thesis of Francisco Cernicharo-Toledo within the CAT-REN group of ITQ (UPV-CSIC), also carried out in the framework of the HIGFLY (GA 101006618) European collaborative project.

🔗 Further information is available at the following link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcata.2025.120467.

We are delighted to share our recent publication entitled “Synthesis of Sulfated Sn–Zr Mesoporous Catalysts for the Selective Dehydration of Hexose-Type Monosaccharides” in Chemistry Open journal, a collaborative research work between both CITeQ-CONICET-UTN and NANOTEC-UTN Argentinean research centers and the CAT-REN group of ITQ (UPV-CSIC), Valencia, Spain. The paper has been considered of special interest by the Editors and selected as Front Cover of the Chemistry Open journal issue 10/2025

🔗 Further information is available at the following link:  https://doi.org/10.1002/open.202400480

The CAT-REN group at ITQ-UPV welcomes Alex Fernández Andrade, who will carry out a predoctoral internship from September 20, 2025, to January 25, 2026. His research will focus on the reductive amination of furfural, with particular emphasis on the evaluation of catalyst stability through recycling tests, the study of molecular adsorption to estimate adsorption enthalpies and analyze the reaction thermodynamics, as well as experiments in the presence of water to understand its effect on the reaction mechanisms. All experiments will be supported by the advanced characterization techniques available at ITQ, ensuring the achievement of high scientific value results