Newton Bhabha Industrial Waste BIOREVIEW
Lead Research Organisation:
Aberystwyth University
Department Name: IBERS
Abstract
BIOREVIEW is a biorefining collaboration between industry and academics in UK and India that aims to develop novel industrial biotechnology (IB) processes to produce value added products from waste streams of the Indian sugar industry. The pilot scale (TRL 4-6) IB solutions will process sugar cane bagasse (SCB) and spent wash (SW) at sufficient quantities to demonstrate viable economic opportunities and waste management options through the development of a bio-product portfolio. This involves demonstrating bio-production of higher value volatile fatty acids (VFAs), xylitol and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) for the agri, food and pharmaceutical sectors. The scalable IB procedures offer improved environmental sustainability options over conventional manufacture and use membrane technology to increase the product value alongside a novel high productivity IB process for xylitol production from SCB. Delivery of a validated integrated biorefining process design evaluated for its economic, social and environmental benefits will inform diversification strategies and investment plans of the Indian sugarcane industry for commercial production of these commodities from waste streams.
Planned Impact
The industrial biotechnology consortium of BIOREVIEW are well placed to commercialise the pilot-scale bioprocesses and portfolio of bioproducts to be developed from the waste streams of the Indian sugarcane industry via translation of academic expertise and industrial "know-how". Activities described in BIOREVIEW are timely in the sense that there are identified business opportunities for diversification of the sugar mill product portfolio to meet identified market demands that are currently met through imports. The key opportunities for market entry come from xylitol and VFAs, which can gain an economic advantage from the biorefining processes being reverse integrated in to a commercial Indian sugar mills. Consortium member Gayatri sugars Ltd, have the refining infrastructure in place to support industrial fermentation of sugarcane bagasse through to xylitol and are an end user for the proposed commercial solutions to the issue of spent wash disposal from onsite ethanol production. As part of the Gaytri Group, a respected and large Indian multinational company, GSL have the commercial ability to scale these emerging bioprocesses to an industrial level and develop the supply chain necessary to bring these products along with microcrystalline cellulose and VFA activated water filters to market. BIOREVIEW will deliver a validated, pilot scale integrated biorefining process design to inform investment plans of GSL and other Indian sugar mill owners for diversification and commercial production of these commodities from current waste streams.
The impact of BIOREVIEW will directly relate to and support the UK Government's Industrial Strategy, with biotechnology identified as a key growth sector in this years' Green Paper, where the use waste as a feedstock rather than food is a key feature. BIOREVIEW has brought together UK waste biorefining, engineering and environmental companies, Fre-Energy, Membranology, Manrochem and LCAworks to address industrial waste issues in India and has connected them with a sugar refinery capable of adopting these UK technologies to meet the sugar industry's needs. The Executive Director of Gayatri Sugars, Mrs T. Sarita Reddy, is also the President of the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA). The ISMA has a membership of 201 sugar mills and is recognised by both Central and State Governments as the primary voice of sugar industry in India. The ISMA maintains close contacts with all regions through a network of regional associations and with international organisations through transnational bodies. The ISMA also acts as an interface between the industry and Government on matters relating to sugar policy, statistics, sugar price movement etc.
The ISMA will greatly enhance the ability to disseminate project outcomes and impact directly to both potential industry end users and government policy makers. Once the pilot scale demonstration units have been commissioned and are operational, a series of knowledge exchange workshops will be promoted through Gayatri Sugars and the ISMA to encourage technology take up within existing Indian sugar mills. In the UK we will engage with local authorities and regional agencies through direct presentations and targeted project dissemination events. We envisage an on-going relationship fostered by regular contacts between the University networks and local and national policy makers. Due to the cross-disciplinary nature of the project (food, IB, chemistry, engineering, water, waste management) final research outcomes will be disseminated to relevant research funding groups (Innovate UK, BBSRC, EPSRC, NIBB networks, etc.) to enhance impact and encourage policy changes to support similar cross-disciplinary funded projects. Masters and PhD students will be taught the latest technological advancements in waste bioprocesses from genome engineering, fermentation science, scale-up and downstream processing for product recovery.
The impact of BIOREVIEW will directly relate to and support the UK Government's Industrial Strategy, with biotechnology identified as a key growth sector in this years' Green Paper, where the use waste as a feedstock rather than food is a key feature. BIOREVIEW has brought together UK waste biorefining, engineering and environmental companies, Fre-Energy, Membranology, Manrochem and LCAworks to address industrial waste issues in India and has connected them with a sugar refinery capable of adopting these UK technologies to meet the sugar industry's needs. The Executive Director of Gayatri Sugars, Mrs T. Sarita Reddy, is also the President of the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA). The ISMA has a membership of 201 sugar mills and is recognised by both Central and State Governments as the primary voice of sugar industry in India. The ISMA maintains close contacts with all regions through a network of regional associations and with international organisations through transnational bodies. The ISMA also acts as an interface between the industry and Government on matters relating to sugar policy, statistics, sugar price movement etc.
The ISMA will greatly enhance the ability to disseminate project outcomes and impact directly to both potential industry end users and government policy makers. Once the pilot scale demonstration units have been commissioned and are operational, a series of knowledge exchange workshops will be promoted through Gayatri Sugars and the ISMA to encourage technology take up within existing Indian sugar mills. In the UK we will engage with local authorities and regional agencies through direct presentations and targeted project dissemination events. We envisage an on-going relationship fostered by regular contacts between the University networks and local and national policy makers. Due to the cross-disciplinary nature of the project (food, IB, chemistry, engineering, water, waste management) final research outcomes will be disseminated to relevant research funding groups (Innovate UK, BBSRC, EPSRC, NIBB networks, etc.) to enhance impact and encourage policy changes to support similar cross-disciplinary funded projects. Masters and PhD students will be taught the latest technological advancements in waste bioprocesses from genome engineering, fermentation science, scale-up and downstream processing for product recovery.
Publications
| Description | Batch and continuous pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse(SCB), a fibrous waste from sugarcane processing, has been optimised to release the C5 sugar xylose for fermentation through to xylitol an natural low calorie, diabetic compatible sweetener that inhibits toot decay. The fermentation process has exceeded the objective in terms of rate and titre (amount produced). Voltile fatty acid production from spent wash has been developed both batchwise and continuously, which is currently under development. Down stream processing of volatile fatty acids (VFA's) i.e. acteic, propionic and butyric acids, from anaeorbic digestate has beed developed at pilot-scale in the UK and plans are under way to ship this equipment to India later in 2020 for installation at Gayatria Sugars Ltd (GSL). Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) has been produced from SCB that has application in pharmaceutical and food grade products and scale-up plans are underway. VFA activated fiber filters are being developed for use in heavy metal recovery from waste water. These product data are supported by process integration and technoeconomic assessmnet in order to assess the commercial viability of extending a lignocellulosic biorefinery onto GSLs sugar mill. Studies have been performed to determine the enviripnmental impact of the processes in terms life cycle assessment investigating the greenhouse gas emmissions associated with these products and processes. These data are in the early stages of assessment. WP2 Goals: Evaluate VFA from spent wash acidogenesis: Preliminary and Rapid acidogenesis assays will be performed to assess its suitability to produce VFA and process parameters viz., COD, pH, TSS, VSS, colour, etc. will be evaluated. Optimisation for high VFA yields: The degree of acidification, with the function of organic load (10 to 100 g COD/litre), pH (4 to 9) and hydraulic retention (24 to 48 hours), will be studied along side evaluating the acidification rate as well as biohydrogen production Biocatalyst enrichment: Physical, chemical and physico-chemical strategies for selective enrichment of biocatalyst for enhanced acidogenic fermentation will be studied and optimised Process evaluation at scaled up operation: Optimised condition derived will be studied at upscaled capacity at IICT and the process operation data will be generated. WP2: Challenges Covid impacted the progress of this work package to certain extent WP2 Achievements: Spent wash Sampled from GSL showed typical characteristic with higher OL Rapid screening methodology designed for screening of VFA production showed the importance of biocatalyst, organic load and redox conditions on the performance. DOE experiments by varying eight different operational parameters with a set of 18 experiments were performed. Higher VFA production was observed with higher organic load of 70 g/L while higher degree of acidification (DOA) has been observed with organic load of 30 g/L. Presence of short chain acids (C2-C4) namely acetic acid, acid and propionic acid was noticed in the systems operated at 38°C while at 47°C and 42°C exhibited higher production of medium chain acids (C4-C5) namely butyric, valeric/iso-valeric acid. Closed loop operation ensured higher productivity by diverting biogas towards system metabolism Selectively enrichment of acidogenic culture was established for VFA production Operation of reactors of 20 L for VFA production in continuous mode. Pilot scale bioreactors was fabricated with variable capacities for evaluation of the VFA production from spent wash WP3: Objectives To design, construct, commission, operate, and then transfer to India and recommission continuous pilot scale VFA recovery and concentration plant capable of processing 1.5 m3/day of spent wash following acidogenesis WP3: Challenges Non-optimal process liquid during early part of the project. Restrictions on travel prohibited on site trials from being conducted. Esterification trials impacted by fire at Swansea University. Lack of assistance with arranging shipping of equipment to India. Indian system was not ready for equipment, more trials needed in UK. Adaptation of DSP due to freeze concentration issues. Loss of key person from project. WP3 Achievements: Construction and validation of ultrafiltration unit for solids removal. Construction of RO unit to concentrate VFAs before further DSP. Trials completed at own facility during travel restrictions. Literature review completed, publication draft in progress. Unit capable of processing >1.5m3 of effluent per day (effluent from bioreactor built as part of WP11). Process optimised to maximise throughput whilst minimising cleaning during the UF stage. Process optimised to maximise VFA concentration during the RO stage. Dissemination activities of the work completed (plus other work packages). WP4 Objectives: To build, operate, and commission a mobile Continuous Biorefining Unit (CBU) capable of processing SW to VFA at a rate of 1.5 m3/day . This will be installed and validated at GSL Kamma Reddy Mill and validated for 6 - 12 months operation WP4 Challenges: Covid restrictions and lockdowns has had a significant impact on being able to progress on CBU fabrication WP4 Achievements: Draft designs have been prepared PI&D and tender specification have been prepared Validation and demonstration will take place due to extension granted by DBT to IICT WP5 objectives: To develop a continuous steam-based pre-treatment process (of over 40 kg / hour, up to 4 dry tone bagasse in total) to maximise xylose oligosaccharide (XOS) release and minimise generation of fermentation inhibitors and produce up to 10,000 L of XOS rich syrup at >10% w/v. SCB fibre will be activated with VFAs to produce water filtration systems by adapting BU patent GB2398518A WP 5 Task 5.1 Batch SCB XOS Challenges: Difficulty exporting SCB from India to the UK meant initial SE-PT trials were on Miscanthus. Once we received the SCB Covid caused delays in starting this work as well as delays in using kit due to the backlog of projects requiring equipment and repairs being delayed Achievements: Through process optimisation at batch scale both SCB and MxG biomass were optimised to release 95% and 83% respectively. Altering the imbibe acid concentration with SCB resulted in XOS:X ratios to be modulated between 68:15 to 6:90, with this level of refinement the amount of XOS desired can be selectively achieved at batch scale Aim was to release >50% of the available xylose and maximise XOS release, both of these aims were achieved WP5: Task 5.2 Continuous XOS production Challenges Sugar cane bagasse (SCB) not shipped to the UK until July 2020- early refiner trials using miscanthus Bangor University pilot scale facility shut (20 March- Sept 2020) because of Covid-19 Technical challenges linked to decomposition of SCB in the pressurised refiner during early trials and sub-optimal mixing of SCB with liquid (water or dilute phosphoric acid) as part of the pre-treatment Achievements Pilot scale (multi-hundred Kg scale) protocols developed for pre-treatment of miscanthus and SCB developed and supply of fibre for task 5.3 High levels of xylan (>60%) released as a result of the pre-treatment protocols developed BU and AU contributed to peer reviewed paper on sugar cane bagasse pre-treatment (in preparation) WP5: Task 5.3 VFA fibre filters Challenges Reactivity of the VFA onto fibres was found to be poor Test method used to assess level of metal pick found to be variable New method needed to make filters No test method for filter testing Achievements Found unmodified fibres as good and in some cases better the VFA modified fibres Unmodified fibres helps to save cost and reduces the manufacturing process Prototype filter cartridges were developed with fibre filter cores Large scale test rig designed, built and variable evaluated Established that filters can be capable of cleaning Cr from waster at approx. 30% reduction in contamination WP6 Objectives: Improve the xylitol biorefining process (XBP) productivity from 1.33 to 2.2 kg/m3/h (250 L max) by modifying the yeast strain to convert XOS to xylitol. Validate fermentation parameters for SCB hydrolysates Express N. crassa CDT xylodextrin membrane transporter alongside optimised xylanolytic enzyme expression in Y4X2 Identify high, medium and low expression promoters from RNAseq data bioinformatic analysis. WP6 Challenges: The XBP target of productivity rate of 2.2 kg/m3/h was unrealistic (too low) for scaled operations. Needed to be >3.1 kg/m3/h. SCB hydrolysate very toxic even under conditions of low pretreatment severity Only 15 g/L xylitol produced in 24 h from SCB hydrolysate (0.625 g/L/h) Xylanase expression was very low and unstable Required modification of objectives and focus Focussed on improving fermentation parameters to convert xylose not XOS to xylitol. WP6 achievements: RNAseq data provide insight into gene regulation during conversion of xylose to xylitol in crude lignocellulosic hydrolysate. Through bioprocess improvements we have demonstrated Advanced xylitol productivity and process economics A new fed batch XBP was optimised to give a titre of 53.55 g/L at 3.57 g/L/h with crude SCB hydrolysate. A new continuous XBP has been optimised to give titres of between 174 g and 196 g of xylitol from crude and partially purified SCB hydrolysate (MEM) with respective rates of 4.55 g/L/h and 5.17 g/L/h. The XBP improved >3.8 fold which could produce approximately 0.5 t/m3/h in a 100 m3 bioreactor (12 t/day) cXBP could now achieve approx. 1 t /m3/h or 24 tonnes xylitol per day in a 100 m3 reactor WP7: Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) Recovery Objectives: Cellulose separation: A pre-treatment phase will be undertaken to separate the cellulose from the bagasse following XOS extraction in Task 5.1 MCC Preparation: The parameters for the microcrystalline cellulose preparation will be optimised. The extracted cellulose will be depolymerised by optimising mild acid, temperature, pressure and redox conditions. This will then be followed by shear treatment to enable effective production of microcrystalline cellulose and degree of polymerisation (DP) and viscosity analysis Characterisation and scale up: The microcrystalline cellulose will be modified through, washing, extraction, pH adjustment, filtering, and screening and drying. The fine particle form microcrystalline cellulose will be evaluated for potential applications for pharmaceutical, food and personal care product formulations. WP7 Achievements: Optimized Physicochemical pretreatment facilitated sustainable cellulose extraction of 0.37 kg/kg Microcrystalline cellulose production from SCB process optimization with simultaneous recovery (0.34 kg/kg MCC; 0.15kg/kg XoS) Scale-up of MCC production up to 1 Kg scale. Life cycle assessment was used for evaluating the sustainable MCC production method (MCC3) Patenting process in progress WP8: Objectives To produce an integrated process design, combining all process outputs from preceding technical work packages (WP2, WP7), and an outline roadmap to enable progression post-project into commercial deployment in Indian industrial sugar mills (for instance GSL) WP8 Challenges: Covid lockdowns delayed information/results from preceding work packages and from Indian equipment suppliers Due to initial delays in SCB shipment, trials continued using Miscanthus; similar but not same. Parameters had to be tweaked to account for this. Cost of steam explosion, downstream processing steps, overall product yield creates pressure on overall process economics. Scope for process improvement and optimal selection of equipment Assumptions had to be made where adequate information from lab and pilot plant trials not available CAPEX and OPEX optimisation required to make products more profitable WP8 Achievements Overall process flow developed covering upstream and downstream components Roadmap prepared for post project progression Identified achievements and key "pinch points" in process with scope for economic improvements Sensitivity analysis shows parameters such as selling price, operating hours, overall yield improvements can make process more viable WP9: Socioeconomic impact assessment WP9: Challenges Covid travel restrictions limited ability to undertake targeted semi-structured interviews and stakeholder meetings. However through the use of local resources extensive research was still achieved. Likewise Covid lockdowns at GSL restricted the access to meaningful current data on process operations. Delays in data being made available by project partners due to Covid limitations. WP9: Achievements Socio-economic value chain model developed, with outputs highlighting potentially significant socio-economic benefit to the region consistent with ODA objectives and key SDGs. Produced complete environmental LCA framework, which was carried in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. Outputs of the assessment provided insight into the emissions contributions of current activities at GSL and the impact of the BioReview processes, as well as forming the foundation for the social impact and supply chain assessments. The assessment identified potential positive contributions to the following SDGs: SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 6, SDG 7, with particular connections to SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. WP10: Objectives To maximise the likelihood of the technical achievements progressing post project into successful commercial outcomes WP10: Challenges Covid lockdowns and travel restrictions prevented there being any actual site visits to demonstrations. However, a video has been produced which is being shown to a number of key individuals within the Indian sugar industry. WP10: Achievements Targeted communication activities have been undertaken including: Peer-reviewed publications and presentations to international audiences. India Expo virtual exhibition Project video prepared and shown to Indian sugar industry http://www.bioreviewproject.org/in-the-press.html Project web site bioreviewproject.org Economic assessments have quantified and signposted key market opportunities for the process outputs A business plan has been produced with a roadmap to progress the project results (TRL5-6) into commercial deployment within the Indian sugar industry. This includes identification of potential sources of finance. |
| Exploitation Route | While the immediate beneficiary of these products aon processes would be Gaytri Sugars Ltd, it is envisaged that other sugar mills in India may also benefit from licensing these technologies. We have submiited and expression of interest to the Earthshot prize (https://earthshotprize.org/) application process to progress MCC and xylitol production from sugarcane bagasse to gain higher scale production data to support a Green Climate fubnd application to the United Nations to support Demonstration-sclae activity at Gayatri Sugars Ltd, Hyderabad, India. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| URL | http://www.bioreviewproject.org/ |
| Description | The findings from the xylitol bioprocess intensification have supported succesful grant capture from the Welsh Government Covid recovery challenge fund for the project ReValue developing resilient supply chains with Arcitek Bio Ltd (ABL commercialising the xylitol bioprocess) and the Welsh Food and Drinks sector. Further commercial interaction has been gained with Tata steel who are part funding a study on the production of xylitol from Miscanthus to determine if ABLs process can provide revenue to support using Miscanthus pellets (the remaining cellulose and lignin) to displace 200,000 tonnes of coal used in steel production. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | BioPOL4Life: Biologically Derived Polyesters and Poluamides - Production, Processing and Circular Life |
| Amount | £503,244 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | USW274 / C80761 |
| Organisation | University of South Wales |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2020 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | Covid Recovery Challenge Fund |
| Amount | £268,847 (GBP) |
| Organisation | ArcitekBio Ltd |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2022 |
| End | 06/2022 |
| Description | EcoXyl scale up project for ARCITEK Bio Ltd |
| Amount | £257,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2019 |
| End | 05/2020 |
| Description | Innovate UK Newton-Bhabha India BIOREVIEW Project COVID-19 Continuity Grant Application by Fre-energy Limited |
| Amount | £91,976 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 73817 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2020 |
| End | 11/2020 |
| Description | Value Added Materials from Organic Waste Sugars (VAMOS) |
| Amount | € 6,984,813 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 837771 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 08/2022 |
| Description | Cambi Steam explosion demonstration scale |
| Organisation | Cambi |
| Country | Norway |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Discussions have been held to explore the use of the Cambi hydrothermal pretreatment system for SCB. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Discussions have been held to explore the use of the Cambi hydrothermal pretreatment system for SCB. |
| Impact | None as yet. This is a collaboration between engineers, chemical engineers and biotechnologists in adacemia and industry. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | NovaPangea Technologies (NPT) and ARCITEKBIO Ltd (ABL) join BIOREVIEW |
| Organisation | ArcitekBio Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The BIOREVIEW team at AU worked with NPT and ABL to resolve biomass processing issues that occur at TRL5/6 i.e dust handling. BIOREVIEW and ABL reduced the dust load of 1 tonne biomass and NPT pretreated this material to release a C5 sugar rich hydrolysate. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The AU team helped guide ABL on hydrolysate extraction and clarification prior to the hydrolysate being fermented up to 100 L at BioBase Europe |
| Impact | Technoeconomic assessment of the fermentation process to convert xylose to xylitol and technoeconomic on the scalability of biomass pretreatment. An NDA has been approved to bring both NPT and ABL into BIOREVIEW as associate partners in order that they may share TEA data relating to pretreatment, fermentation and DSP at scales that ore of a higher TRL than work to be conducted in BIOREVIEW. These data will help form the business case for this process and enable Gayatri Sugars Ltd to make buisiness investment decisions relating to product diversisfication and the necessary Capex and Opex required. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NovaPangea Technologies (NPT) and ARCITEKBIO Ltd (ABL) join BIOREVIEW |
| Organisation | ArcitekBio Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The BIOREVIEW team at AU worked with NPT and ABL to resolve biomass processing issues that occur at TRL5/6 i.e dust handling. BIOREVIEW and ABL reduced the dust load of 1 tonne biomass and NPT pretreated this material to release a C5 sugar rich hydrolysate. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The AU team helped guide ABL on hydrolysate extraction and clarification prior to the hydrolysate being fermented up to 100 L at BioBase Europe |
| Impact | Technoeconomic assessment of the fermentation process to convert xylose to xylitol and technoeconomic on the scalability of biomass pretreatment. An NDA has been approved to bring both NPT and ABL into BIOREVIEW as associate partners in order that they may share TEA data relating to pretreatment, fermentation and DSP at scales that ore of a higher TRL than work to be conducted in BIOREVIEW. These data will help form the business case for this process and enable Gayatri Sugars Ltd to make buisiness investment decisions relating to product diversisfication and the necessary Capex and Opex required. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | NovaPangea Technologies (NPT) and ARCITEKBIO Ltd (ABL) join BIOREVIEW |
| Organisation | Nova Pangaea Technologies |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The BIOREVIEW team at AU worked with NPT and ABL to resolve biomass processing issues that occur at TRL5/6 i.e dust handling. BIOREVIEW and ABL reduced the dust load of 1 tonne biomass and NPT pretreated this material to release a C5 sugar rich hydrolysate. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The AU team helped guide ABL on hydrolysate extraction and clarification prior to the hydrolysate being fermented up to 100 L at BioBase Europe |
| Impact | Technoeconomic assessment of the fermentation process to convert xylose to xylitol and technoeconomic on the scalability of biomass pretreatment. An NDA has been approved to bring both NPT and ABL into BIOREVIEW as associate partners in order that they may share TEA data relating to pretreatment, fermentation and DSP at scales that ore of a higher TRL than work to be conducted in BIOREVIEW. These data will help form the business case for this process and enable Gayatri Sugars Ltd to make buisiness investment decisions relating to product diversisfication and the necessary Capex and Opex required. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Steam explosion for Leeds Univesity Industrial Waste Challenge Project |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | AU performed steam explosion pretreatment on municipal solid MSW |
| Collaborator Contribution | Leeds supplied MSW do AU for pretreatment |
| Impact | None as yet |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Sugarcane bagasse trials with Advanced microwave technologies (AMT) Ltd |
| Organisation | Advanced Microwave Technologies |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The BIOREVIEW sugarcane bagasse (SCB) pretreatment and bioconversion to xylitol team have held discussions with AMT to explore the use of their technology to release hemicellulose from SCB. We have supplied material ground to the requisite size distribution for compatibility with their system and are awaiting samples to be returned in order to assess the effect of microwave pretreatment. |
| Collaborator Contribution | AMT have pretreated SCB supplied by BIOREVIEW and are in the process of returnung samples to the Aberystwyth University BIOREVIEW team for chemical analysis. |
| Impact | No outputs so far. This is a multi-disciplinary collaboration between biotechnologists, engineers and chemical engineers |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Company Name | AR CITEKBIO Ltd |
| Description | Our application aims to enable the operation of a new spin-out company from Aberystwyth University called ARCITEKBio Ltd (ABL). The primary vision of the company is to provide sustainable solutions for the manufacturing of xylitol through innovations in Industrial Biotechnology (IB). Xylitol, a natural sweetener, with wide ranging applications as a sugar substitute has an existing market of USD 730M forecasted to cross USD 1B by 2020 (CAGR of 6.2%). Regulatory and raw material supply issues with current commercial production, via a chemical catalysis process, has resulted in a global supply shortage and resultant price spike (by almost 50%). ABL aims to use this opportunity using its disruptive EcoXyl technology and offers a raw material agnostic, cost-effective, sustainable and regulatory-compliant production approach. Overall we strive to curtail the global sugar epidemic and promote sustainable living whilst ensuring job creation and growth. EcoXyl's innovation include easing the strained supply chain by providing flexibility in raw material sourcing (uses waste from multiple sectors like farming, sugar, brewing, paper/pulp), lowering manufacturing costs by increasing sugar capture (75% vs current 40%) along with reducing number of process steps and promoting sustainable manufacturing by avoiding harsh conditions employed currently (toxic catalyst, high temperature/pressure). EcoXyl also overcomes typical drawbacks of other proposed biotech manufacturing routes (incomplete sugar conversion, microbial intolerance to waste liquor, inefficient downstream purification) yielding favorable process economics and strong potential to undercut current manufacturing. A process patent application for the technology is currently in PCT phase. Whilst EcoXyl's has been implemented at TRL4 (g scale) to yield a minimum viable product, prospective technology adopters require demonstrable proof of EcoXyl's continued efficacy following further scale-up (TRL6; ton scale). Key project objectives thus include - de-risking technology adoption through demonstration of process scalability from TRL4 to TRL5 (kg) and eventually TRL6 (tons; to be done after securing further funding), private sharing of prototype with collaborative end-users for beta-testing and early-stage regulatory assessments, engaging organisations with manufacturing expertise for potential Joint Venture/licensing agreements and/or identifying contract manufacturing opportunities for product delivery via partnering with xylitol distributors; and raising company profile via participation in business competitions and Investment forums, to enable further equity-driven funding via banks and VCs. ABL possesses 2 Letters of Intent from xylitol distributors. Initial discussions with Development Bank of Wales for securing further funds have been favorable. Other focus areas include rapid growth, building team with complimentary skills and ensuring company sustainability via sustained revenue generation. |
| Year Established | 2019 |
| Impact | ARCITEKBIO Ltd launch date is 14th March 2019. |
| Description | 2 workshops on producing xylitol from the industrial waste sugarcane bagasse |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | BIOREVIEW was used as a case study to demonstrate to companies involved in the food and drinks industries how bioreining can be used to valorise waste and/or co-product streams in a circular bioecinomy context. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| URL | https://www.arcitekbio.co.uk/revalue |
| Description | 2019 Brasil-UK Workshop Sustainable Chemicals and Fuels through Synthetic Biology |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Researchers and industrialists from the UK, Brazil and Argentina met at Brazilian Biorenewables National Laboratory (LNBR), Giuseppe Máximo Scolfaro, 10.000 Guará, Campinas (SP), CEP: 13083-100 to discuss the role of synthetic biology and how this can influsence the production of renewable fuels. Brynat gave and overview of BIOREVIEW and the role of synthetic biology in the production of the higher value product xylitol from sugar cane bagasse. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | AIEC opening |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Opening of AU new Biorefining centre. Presentations were made on current biorefining projects along with equipment available to academics and industry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | BBSRC IUK Newtion/Bhabha DBT Industrial Waste Challenge Project Kick-off(s) Delhi, December 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The meeting was focussed on the awarded BBSRC IUK Newton/Bhabha DBT Industrial Waste Challenge Projects to foster international co-operation between projects, businesses and academia. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.bioreviewproject.org/ |
| Description | Cardiff round table summit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Cardiff roundtable meeting with Uk assistant high commissioner and delegates on 12th Nov 2021 to discuss common approaches to waste management and developing a circular economy in the UK and India and explore ways to reduce clinate change impact. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Dr Sreenivas Rao Ravella invited as a Distinguished Speaker at Global Bio-India 2019 organised by DBT, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Dr Sreenivas Rao Ravella was invited by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, as a Distinguished Speaker at Global Bio-India 2019. He was part of the biofuel panel, the event held at Aerocity, New Delhi, 21-23 November 2019. This was India's first large biotechnology conference organised by Government of India. During the Conference Dr. Rao mentioned about BBSRC, Innovate UK and BIOREVIEW. Global Bio-India 2019 was India's first biotechnology stakeholders conglomerate, more than 2500 participants attended the summit. The participants include CEOs of global biotech companies in India, VIPS, and ministers (Government of India) Union Minister for Science and Technology, Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel, Commerce & Industry Minister, Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology. Several reports on Indian biotechnology were released during the event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.globalbioindia.com/ |
| Description | Dr. Sreenivas Rao Ravella - International Capacity Building programme with Chaitanya Postgraduate College, India |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Dr Sreenivas Rao Ravella visited India in December 2019, as part of International Capacity building with Chaitanya Degree and Post Graduate College, Warangal, India. I spent time with students and staff during an applied biotechnology and process optimisation course organised by Department of Biotechnology, Chaitanya Postgraduate College. This course was funded by the Society for Applied Microbiology (SFAM), UK. During the workshop Dr. Rao mentioned about BBSRC, Innovate UK and BIOREVIEW to the participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://beaconwales.org/en/blog/view/sreenivas-in-india |
| Description | Expo 2020 Dubai: Speaker "How will we live?" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was an expert panel assembled by the Welsh Government and the UK Department for International Trade to form and expert scientific panel on how we can reduce waste in the future. Dr Ana Winters of Aberystwyth University was in attendance and represented achievements made in the UK/India project BIOREVIEW that is using waste from the sugarcane industry to produce higher value products for environmental and socieconomic improvement. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | IBERS Centenary Celebrations |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Celebration of IBERS 100 years in plant breeding. Presentations given on biorefining projects and available equipment. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Innovation and Diversification Wales (Farming Connect Wales) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Stand hosted by Membranology, supported by Manrochem, FreEnergy and Aberystwyth University to promote BIOREVIEW to the public and business community. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Meeting with TATA Steel |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with Dr Ciaran Martin at TATA steel to discuss the use of Miscanthus to decarbonise 200,000 tonnes of coal at their Port Talbot plant. Discussions revolved around the use of steam exploded and then pelletised Miscanthus for combustion and the the use of the hemicellulose side stream to produce xylitol and potential revenue. These talks led to a BEACON prrof of concept project that was supported via ERDF funding, a £20K Research Wales Innovation Network project funded through Aberystwyth University to estimate the climate change impact of these activities and associated GHG reductions. Subsequently a SMART Partnership fund proposal has been submitted between IBERS, TATA steel and AU spin out ARCITEKBio Ltd to determine the relative xylitol yield from Miscanthus. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Membranology also presented a stand at an event organised by the Knowledge Transfer Network on the 27th February 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Membranology also presented a stand at an event organised by the Knowledge Transfer Network on the 27th February 2020: Food Industry Innovation 2020 - Focusing on Food waste challenge solutions, Sheffield. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Membranology presented a stand at an event organised by the Knowledge Transfer Network |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Membranology presented a stand at an event organised by the Knowledge Transfer Network on the 25th February 2020: Food Industry Innovation 2020 - Focusing on Plant based/alternative proteins, Birmingham. This event was looking at novel proteins and there was interest in looking at waste sugars for valorising products. Details collected and further discussions needed. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Ministrerial visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Lee Waters Deputy Welsh Minister for Climate change attended a meeting at Aberystwyth. BIOREVIEW was highlighted to him and the opportunity that has arisen with TATA steel to use Miscanthus pellets for combustion and xylitol production as a potential revenus source, developed in BIOREVIEW, to displace 200,000 tonnes of coal useed in steel production at their Port Talbot plant. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Newtown rotary Club Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presented current and post research in the area of biorefining. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Nova Pangea Technologies Visit to Aberystwyth University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Nova Pangea Technologies (NPT) visited with BIOREVIEW team at IBERS, Aberystwyth University (AU), to discuss collaboration and integreation of their industrial biomass pretreatment process with the xylitol Bioprocess developed at AU. Since this interaction biomass has been processed and in collaboration with AU sipn out ARCITEK-Bio Ltd (ABL), up to 1000 L of NPT wheat straw hydrolysate has successfully been converted into xylitol. An NDA to include both NPT and ABL as associate partners is being prpoared in order to share technoeconomic data from each company with the BIOREVIEW team to inform scale-up and commercial deployment at Gayatri Sugars ltd, India. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Press release |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Press release for the BIOREVIEW project awarded by the BBSRC Innovate UK Newton/Bhabha DBT Industrial waste challenge call. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/news/archive/2018/10/title-217286-en.html |
| Description | Royal Society of Chemistry Roadshow 2019 CSIR-IICT |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Oral presentation given entitled "Microcrystailline cellulose production from sugar cane bagasse: sustainable process development through LCA". Best oral presentation prize awarded INR 4000: |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | TRavel Awrd visit to multiple organisations in Australia and New Zealand |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Under the BBSRC travel award Queensland University of Technology Engineering Dept were visited who are active in biorefining. BIOREVIEW was discussed and led to conversations as to how we could collaborate further with the potential of working as part of a consortium in the Global Clean Energy Centers call. BIOREVIEW was presented at the Ferrier Institute in Wellington, New Zealand and discussed at Massey University and Agresearch in Plamerston North. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | The Beacon project at IBERS (AU) had a virtual celebration to mark 10 years of investment |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Beacon project at IBERS (AU) had a virtual celebration to mark 10 years of investment to build a greener economy which Mark Drakeford, the First Minister for Wales attended. The Bioreview project was discussed at this online event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://beaconwales.org/en/blog/view/first-minister-celebrates-10-years-of-investment-to-build-a-gree... |
| Description | Travel to India meeting several institutes to establish collaborative R&D relationships |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | As part of the BBSRC Institute International Travel Award multiple organisations in Hyderabad were visited to build relationships in collaborative R&D. These included; The Indian Institute of Chemical Technology; The centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology; ICRISAT; Osmania University; Ag-Hub and T-Hub. The last 2 organisations engage with SME's in the Agritech sector and nuture entrepreneurs and start-ups. In addition, meetings were held with Gareth Wynn Jones Deputy High Commissioner of India and Jayesh Ranjan, Secretary, Information Technology (IT); Government of Telangana where BIOREVIEW was discussed alongside Indian Gov initiatives such as Waste to Wealth and how this could be used to help increase farmers income. A long standing issue. While at ICRISAT discussions were held with Dr Mohanty working as Adviser in the office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to Government of India, New Delhi. The possibility of using biorefining strategies such as those in BIOREVIEW to generate waste from wealth, help tackle stubble burning in Hyarana and improve farmers income was discussed and Bryant and Gallagher were invited for discussions at his offices in Delhi. A white policy paper is in preparation. The potential of developing a UK/India DTP was discussed at ICRISAT and other organisations and this currently being explored. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | UK India Twin Cities Partnership Puducherry and Aberystwyth 20-21 January 2022, 0900 UK time/ 1430 IST |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Objective of the session is to identify synergies between Aberystwyth University and Pondicherry University with focus on plastic pollution and environmental research with th possible output of joint research projects, twinning courses, student exchange. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Visit by Welsh Government International Relations Officers from India |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Welsh Government officers from Mumbai and Bangalore were given a tour of the biorefining facilities at IBERS and BIOREVIEW was showcased. The potential of developing a DTP with India was explored and potential funding streams identified. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Visit from UTM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Return Visit by UTM team for further discussion on potential collaborative research and studentships etc. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Visit to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Major discussions with Staff at both of the UTM campuses on areas of collaboration in Industrial biotechnology, bio-circular economy, engagement with Business, possible studentships and available equipment. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Visit to the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) Cali, Colombia |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The visit was funded under the BBSRC Institute Travel awarded led by Dr Ana Winters. BIOREVIEW was highlighted as a way to fully use waste from the sugarcane industry to demonstrate alternative applications for use of lignocellulosic material from tropical crops. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Workshop on Q-dot and Nanostructured Materials for Water Treatment (Q-dot-NMat-for Water) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Workshop on Q-dot and Nanostructured Materials for Water Treatment (Q-dot-NMat-for Water) Organized by Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology, C-MET, Pune University of Leeds, UK 15-16 November 2019 Venue C-MET, Pune, 411 008 Event is supported by the Royal Society, London, International Collaboration with India. Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET), Pune is organizing an Workshop on Nanostructured Materials, Processing & Device Fabrication (Q-dot- NMat- for Water) at Pune, India sponsored by the Royal Society of UK, London during 15 and 16th November 2019 The workshop objective was to bring together leading academics, scientists, engineers, and industry partners to exchange and share this platform for meeting challenges in energy and water, which are essential for life on the planet. The proposed topics will lead to thematic discussions and it is intended that the high-quality work may be reviewed for taking forward to proposals. Presentations by Bryant, Aberystwyth University, and Thippeswammy, Manrochem Ltd, developed the use of the Q-Dot platform to resolve process bottlenecks in industrial biotechnology that could help improve the transition of clean-growth and development of the bioeconomy. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |