Sustainable Technologies for Chitosan and Novel Functional Derivatives
Lead Participant:
WELLS PLASTICS LIMITED
Abstract
The project aims to convert waste product from seafood processing into valuable materials for novel industrial applications. The Consortium researches on the development of worldwide-sourced and UK-manufactured high performance functional materials for use in the food, agricultural and drilling sectors by processing chitosan, a biopolymer from crustacean waste. A novel low environmental impact process for obtaining chitosan and a range of functional materials based on derivatisation of the biopolymer is being developed.
The demographic trend towards smaller households in the UK means that there is rapid growth in packaging that offers fresh food in a consumer-ready state. Increasing safety and shelf-life of highly perishable food is very important for producers and consumers and presents a major business opportunity, that is addressed in this project. The agricultural applications of the functional material demonstrate clear technical advantages over competing materials, because it allows the reduction of chemical and irrigation inputs.
The project is funded by the Technology Strategy Board and the Consortium brings together leading companies in polymer, food, agricultural and drilling industries along with academic institutions with the aim to modify the processing of crustacean shells (using existing waste) and provide a range of new bio-based materials.
The demographic trend towards smaller households in the UK means that there is rapid growth in packaging that offers fresh food in a consumer-ready state. Increasing safety and shelf-life of highly perishable food is very important for producers and consumers and presents a major business opportunity, that is addressed in this project. The agricultural applications of the functional material demonstrate clear technical advantages over competing materials, because it allows the reduction of chemical and irrigation inputs.
The project is funded by the Technology Strategy Board and the Consortium brings together leading companies in polymer, food, agricultural and drilling industries along with academic institutions with the aim to modify the processing of crustacean shells (using existing waste) and provide a range of new bio-based materials.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
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WELLS PLASTICS LIMITED | £212,413 | £ 58,307 |
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Participant |
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M-I DRILLING FLUIDS U.K. LIMITED | £71,366 | |
VALUEFORM LIMITED | £58,937 | £ 17,681 |
MOY PARK LIMITED | £11,555 | |
MARKS AND SPENCER GROUP P.L.C. | £222,689 | £ 19,340 |
NIAB. | £75,137 | £ 75,137 |
WREXHAM UNIVERSITY | £97,000 | £ 97,000 |
UNIVERSITY OF READING | £255,520 | £ 255,520 |
KEN WILKINS PRINT LIMITED | £74,307 | £ 18,681 |
INNOVIA FILMS LIMITED | £95,831 | £ 31,040 |
BANGOR UNIVERSITY N WALES | £234,429 | £ 234,429 |
FOOD INVESTMENTS LIMITED | £145,981 | |
FINDUS GROUP LIMITED | £49,975 |
People |
ORCID iD |