Through this collaboration, Spero will receive support to advance its proprietary SPERLU™ technology, which transforms lignin into renewable chemical building blocks. The aim is to explore new pathways for converting underutilized biomass into valuable materials. SPERLU stands for Selective Process for Efficient Removal of Lignin and Upgrading.
Lignin is a biopolymer found in all plants, typically accounting for 10-25% of their mass. Every year more than 70 million tons of lignin are burned as a low-value heat source within the paper pulp and biofuel industries. SPERLU can be considered an add-on technology to create new revenue streams from waste, adding value to paper plants, biofuel producers, biomass- powered power plants and other biomass generators and users.
“Working with Shell GameChanger is a major step forward,” said Mahdi Abu-Omar, CEO of Spero Renewables. “This partnership provides a unique opportunity to validate our approach and explore its potential across a range of applications.”
Spero’s process offers an alternative to conventional biomass conversion methods, with a focus on efficiency and scalability. The company’s research team brings deep expertise in lignin valorization, supported by a strong patent portfolio and peer-reviewed publications. Through the GameChanger project, Spero aims to better understand how its SPERLU™ technology could contribute to more sustainable solutions across industries.
