A German paint manufacturer is working with researchers to extract functional coating ingredients from pig manure, aiming to match the performance of conventional fossil-based products.
Oellers, based in Aldenhoven, has partnered with Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences and machinery builder 3WIN on the project. The collaboration focuses on extracting phytic acid from agricultural waste and using it in anticorrosive coatings.
The initiative involves two research projects, P-REx and BioPhosCoat, which began in 2024. In the P-REx project, researchers use enzymatic processes to extract phytic acid from pig manure. The phosphorus contained in the acid is then made available as a binder component for paint formulations.
“Our coatings engineers are currently testing which modification of phytic acid achieves the best results,” said managing director Paul Oellers. Laboratory trials are underway to optimize the material for industrial use.
The family-owned company has previously incorporated renewable materials into its products. It already uses alkyd resins and fatty acids from vegetable oils sourced from regional suppliers.
Protective and decorative coatings currently rely heavily on fossil-derived additives. The research projects address two challenges simultaneously: reducing dependence on petroleum-based materials and finding productive uses for abundant agricultural residues.
Both projects have received funding from North Rhine-Westphalia and the German federal government.Â
If successfully scaled, the bio-based approach could offer sustainable alternatives for the anticorrosive coating segment. The projects build on Oellers’ broader strategy to integrate bio-based and regionally sourced materials into its portfolio.
The research represents an attempt to valorize livestock manure, which is abundantly available but often presents disposal challenges. Converting it into industrial coating ingredients could create new value from agricultural waste streams while supporting the coatings industry’s shift toward renewable feedstocks.
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