Radboud Chemists Leverage Robotics to Shift to Bio-based Materials

Researchers at Radboud University are collaborating with companies and employing robotics to facilitate the transition from oil-based materials to bio-based alternatives. This shift is crucial as many everyday chemical products, including medicines, plastics, and paints, remain heavily reliant on fossil fuels, raising sustainability concerns.

The initiative is part of the larger Big Chemistry programme, aimed at developing materials derived from biological sources. The transition, however, poses significant challenges. It requires replacing fossil-based raw materials without compromising the quality of the final products. According to Wilhelm Huck, a professor of physical-organic chemistry at Radboud University, understanding the molecular properties and interactions of these new materials is essential.

Understanding Complex Interactions

Huck highlights that most chemical interactions are non-additive. For instance, the behavior of a mixture cannot be easily predicted by simply combining the behaviors of individual components. “In many cases, the interaction between molecules leads to an outcome that you couldn’t have predicted,” he stated. The vast number of potential interactions complicates matters further, as suppliers may offer tens of thousands of components that can be mixed in various ways, resulting in millions of possible interactions.

To tackle this complexity, Huck emphasizes the need for predictive models that can simulate the properties of mixtures. This approach requires extensive data collection through experimentation, enabling researchers to train these models effectively.

Innovative Projects in Focus

This fall, three significant projects received funding under the Big Chemistry programme of the National Growth Fund. Led by Huck, along with fellow chemists Mathijs Mabesoone and Peter Korevaar, the projects will explore bio-based materials for paints and soaps among other applications.

Korevaar’s project, in collaboration with Van Wijhe Verf, focuses on developing paints that maintain essential properties such as waterproofing and stability, which are often reliant on oil-based components. “If you try to design that based on new, bio-based ingredients, you need a lot of experimental data,” he explained.

Mabesoone is working with Croda International to study soaps. His research aims to create a comprehensive database of measurements to predict how mixtures behave, especially since certain properties can dramatically change at different concentrations.

The third project involves fundamental research into polymers, large molecules that frequently occur in mixtures. Huck notes that there is currently insufficient data for effective theoretical calculations regarding these materials. Collaborating with TNO and Van Loon Chemical Innovations (VLCI), the team will collect more data to enhance AI models for better predictions.

Harnessing Robotics for Data Collection

A key aspect of these projects is the use of robotics to generate large amounts of unique data. Although a state-of-the-art robot lab is set to open at Noviotech Campus in Nijmegen in 2026, researchers are currently utilizing smaller robots to conduct experiments. These robots autonomously test and measure various mixtures, significantly speeding up the data collection process.

Mabesoone describes the process: “You supply such a robot with a few samples of basic solutions, and then you put it to work testing, mixing, and measuring. The robot decides which are the best samples to make, and you only need to supply a small amount to obtain a lot of data.”

Future Implications for Consumers

As for the potential impact on consumers, Huck suggests that while the transition may not be immediately noticeable, it is essential for the future of product availability. “If we don’t do this, you may find at some point you can no longer get certain products because they contain substances that are no longer permitted or available,” he cautioned.

In the long run, successful implementation of these bio-based materials could lead to more biodegradable products that maintain high quality. The integration of robotics and AI in the development process not only expands the range of combinations that can be explored but also holds the promise of discovering new properties that enhance product performance.

The research initiatives at Radboud University represent a significant step toward sustainable chemistry, demonstrating how innovation can drive the transition to environmentally friendly materials.