Production of chitosans for use in food and personal care products
Lead Participant:
UNILEVER U.K. CENTRAL RESOURCES LIMITED
Abstract
Chitosan is a polymer that is currently made from crab and shrimp shells. It has interesting properties as a structurant for food and personal care products, but obtaining large quantities of pure material in a sustainable way is difficult. The aim of this collaboration is to genetically-engineer a bacteria to produce large quantities of relatively pure chitosan in fermenters. Not only would this provide the polymer from a non-animal source, it would also be free of the contaminants that can currently cause an allergic reaction unless removed, and would provide material from a sustainable source. Producing various types of chitosan via industrial fermentation using simple feedstocks would overcome the problems of sustainable and ethical production from crustaceans.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
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UNILEVER U.K. CENTRAL RESOURCES LIMITED | £104,762 | £ 67,572 |
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Participant |
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INNOVA PARTNERSHIPS LIMITED | ||
UNILEVER PLC | ||
GENABLER LTD | £181,972 | £ 136,479 |
UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH |
People |
ORCID iD |
Gregor Russell (Project Manager) |