<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><ns2:project xmlns:ns1="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api" xmlns:ns2="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/project" xmlns:ns3="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/fund" xmlns:ns4="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/person" xmlns:ns5="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/project/outcome" xmlns:ns6="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/organisation" ns1:created="2026-06-22T07:57:45Z" ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/projects/37A76247-1014-42D2-8966-979CB664A183" ns1:id="37A76247-1014-42D2-8966-979CB664A183"><ns1:links><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/persons/188A4CEB-34FB-4546-9996-2BE639A5F742" ns1:rel="PM_PER"/><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/organisations/1671F13D-99CD-406D-8870-2410477E8F56" ns1:rel="LEAD_ORG"/><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/organisations/1671F13D-99CD-406D-8870-2410477E8F56" ns1:rel="PARTICIPANT_ORG"/><ns1:link ns1:end="2025-01-31T00:00:00Z" ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/funds/077631F5-3E2F-4A61-80D0-A72D746E04D7" ns1:rel="FUND" ns1:start="2024-02-01T00:00:00Z"/></ns1:links><ns2:identifiers><ns2:identifier ns2:type="RCUK">10096735</ns2:identifier></ns2:identifiers><ns2:title>Sustainable production of biopolymers from insects for customised applications: process scale up.</ns2:title><ns2:status>Closed</ns2:status><ns2:grantCategory>Collaborative R&amp;D</ns2:grantCategory><ns2:leadFunder>Innovate UK</ns2:leadFunder><ns2:abstractText>Biopolymers are also known as bioplastic; they are biodegradable and safe to apply in biological environments (i.e. human tissues). Chitin is the second most abundant natural biopolymer after cellulose and its most usual form is called 'Chitosan'

Entoplast is producing this valuable biopolymer from insects. The particular source is capable of reprocessing large quantities of organic waste transforming it into biomass

Currently, 95% of chitin/chitosan is sourced from shellfish. The global chitin/chitosan market is dependent on this source even though even though the process is needs strong acid and harmful chemicals to extract, scalability of existing methods are difficult as production relies on the fishery industry waste, and yields low output volumes.

Despite this the global market is valued at &amp;pound;1B,increasing to &amp;pound;3B by the end of the decade.

This project carries a novel approach to produce chitin/chitosan bioplastic from insects as an appropriate feedstock in multiple industries. Developing a net zero process for the regeneration of organic waste (OW) into high-value products whilst eliminating the use and disposal of harmful acids by using a novel process isolating the chitin/chitosan extracted with natural fluids promoting green and recyclable methods.

There are many applications and uses for Chitin/Chitosan - though it is the pharmaceutical sector where the products being highly appreciated for their antiseptic and biocompatible properties where innovation is at its highest.

Given the almost unlimited availability of organic waste, The Entoplast process is highly scalable, it is aligned with the circular economy concepts reducing green house gases and removing process to reduce carbon footprint. The process can be realised at low cost and is proven to show Entoplast's eco-friendly natural fluid extraction system yields significantly higher masses than current sources.</ns2:abstractText></ns2:project>