NOVEL SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES FOR EFFICIENT UTILISATION OF AGRICULTURAL WASTE STREAMS IN A CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Biochemical Engineering
Abstract
The chemical and pharmaceutical industries are currently reliant on petrochemical derived intermediates for the synthesis of a wide range of valuable chemicals, materials and medicines. Decreasing petrochemical reserves, and concerns over increasing cost and greenhouse gas emissions, are now driving the search for renewable and environmentally friendly sources of these critically needed compounds.
This project aims to establish a range of new manufacturing technologies for efficient conversion of biomass in agricultural waste streams into sustainable sources of these valuable chemical intermediates. The UK Committee on Climate Change (2018) has highlighted the importance of the efficient use of agricultural biomass in tackling climate change. The work undertaken in this project will contribute to this effort and help the UK government achieve its stated target of 'net-zero emissions' by 2050.
The new approaches will be exemplified using UK-sourced Sugar Beet Pulp (SBP) a renewable resource in which the UK is self-sufficient. Over 8 million tonnes of sugar beet is grown annually in the UK on over 3500 farms concentrated in East Anglia and the East Midlands. After harvest, the beet is transported to a small number of advanced biorefineries to extract the main product; the sucrose we find in table sugar. SBP is the lignocellulosic material left after sucrose extraction. Currently it is dried (requiring energy input) and then sold as a low-value animal feed.
SBP is primarily composed of two, naturally occurring, biological polymers; cellulose and pectin. Efficient utilisation of this biomass waste stream demands that applications are found for both of these. This work will establish the use of the cellulose nanofibres for making antimicrobial coatings and 3D-printed scaffolds (in which cells can be cultured for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications). The pectin will be broken down into its two main components: L-arabinose and D-galacturonic acid. The L-arabinose can be used directly as a low-calorie sweetener to combat the growing problem of obesity. The D-galacturonic acid will be modified in order to allow formation of biodegradable polymers which have a wide range of applications. This new ability to convert SBP into a range of useful food, chemical and healthcare products is expected to bring significant social, economic and environmental benefits.
In conducting this research we will adopt a holistic approach to the design of integrated biorefineries in which these new technologies will be implemented. Computer-based modelling tools will be used to assess the efficiency of raw material, water and energy utilisation. Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) approaches will be employed to identify the most cost-effective and environmentally benign product and process combinations for potential commercialisation. The results will be widely disseminated to facilitate public engagement with the research and ethical evaluation. In this way the work will support the UK in its transition to a low-carbon, bio-based circular economy.
This project aims to establish a range of new manufacturing technologies for efficient conversion of biomass in agricultural waste streams into sustainable sources of these valuable chemical intermediates. The UK Committee on Climate Change (2018) has highlighted the importance of the efficient use of agricultural biomass in tackling climate change. The work undertaken in this project will contribute to this effort and help the UK government achieve its stated target of 'net-zero emissions' by 2050.
The new approaches will be exemplified using UK-sourced Sugar Beet Pulp (SBP) a renewable resource in which the UK is self-sufficient. Over 8 million tonnes of sugar beet is grown annually in the UK on over 3500 farms concentrated in East Anglia and the East Midlands. After harvest, the beet is transported to a small number of advanced biorefineries to extract the main product; the sucrose we find in table sugar. SBP is the lignocellulosic material left after sucrose extraction. Currently it is dried (requiring energy input) and then sold as a low-value animal feed.
SBP is primarily composed of two, naturally occurring, biological polymers; cellulose and pectin. Efficient utilisation of this biomass waste stream demands that applications are found for both of these. This work will establish the use of the cellulose nanofibres for making antimicrobial coatings and 3D-printed scaffolds (in which cells can be cultured for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications). The pectin will be broken down into its two main components: L-arabinose and D-galacturonic acid. The L-arabinose can be used directly as a low-calorie sweetener to combat the growing problem of obesity. The D-galacturonic acid will be modified in order to allow formation of biodegradable polymers which have a wide range of applications. This new ability to convert SBP into a range of useful food, chemical and healthcare products is expected to bring significant social, economic and environmental benefits.
In conducting this research we will adopt a holistic approach to the design of integrated biorefineries in which these new technologies will be implemented. Computer-based modelling tools will be used to assess the efficiency of raw material, water and energy utilisation. Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) approaches will be employed to identify the most cost-effective and environmentally benign product and process combinations for potential commercialisation. The results will be widely disseminated to facilitate public engagement with the research and ethical evaluation. In this way the work will support the UK in its transition to a low-carbon, bio-based circular economy.
Organisations
- University College London (Lead Research Organisation)
- Unilever (Netherlands) (Collaboration)
- Hypha Discovery (Collaboration)
- The Welding Institute (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- PALL Europe (Collaboration)
- AB Sugar (Collaboration)
- Ingenza Ltd (Collaboration)
- Croda International (Collaboration)
- IBioIC (Collaboration)
- CELLiNK (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Johnson Matthey (United Kingdom) (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Almac Group (Collaboration)
- Unilever (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Ingenza (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Hypha Discovery (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Autichem Ltd (Project Partner)
- AB Sugar (British Sugar Group) (Project Partner)
- Eco Research Ltd (Project Partner)
- Croda (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Almac (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Pall Corporation (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (Project Partner)
Publications
Karagoz P
(2023)
Pharmaceutical applications of lignin-derived chemicals and lignin-based materials: linking lignin source and processing with clinical indication
in Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery
Flores-Fernández CN
(2022)
Synergistic action of thermophilic pectinases for pectin bioconversion into D-galacturonic acid.
in Enzyme and microbial technology
Ni Y
(2023)
The use of tyrosinases in a chemoenzymatic cascade as a peptide ligation strategy.
in RSC chemical biology
Description | AB Sugar |
Organisation | AB Sugar |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Established Industry Advisory Board |
Collaborator Contribution | Member of Industry Advisory Board for EP/W019132/1. Provision of sugar beet pulp feedstock. |
Impact | None to date (grant just starting). |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Almac |
Organisation | Almac Group |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Organised Industry Advisory Board. |
Collaborator Contribution | Member of Industry Advisory Board for EP/W019132/1. Advice on synthetic routes. |
Impact | None to date (grant just starting). |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Cellink |
Organisation | CELLINK |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Organisation of Industry Advisory Board. |
Collaborator Contribution | Member of Industry Advisory Board for EP/W019132/1. Advice on 3D printing of biological polymers. |
Impact | None to date (project just starting). |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Croda |
Organisation | Croda International |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Organised Industry Advisory Board. |
Collaborator Contribution | Member of Industry Advisory Board for EP/W019132/1. |
Impact | None to date (project just starting). |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Hypha Discovery |
Organisation | Hypha Discovery |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Formation of Industry Advisory Board. |
Collaborator Contribution | Member of Industry Advisory Board for EP/W019132/1. Advice on enzyme identification and cloning/expression. |
Impact | None to date (project just starting). |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | IBioIC |
Organisation | IBioIC |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Organised Industry Advisory Board. |
Collaborator Contribution | Member of Industry Advisory Board for EP/W019132/1. Strategic advice on industrial carbohydrate crops. |
Impact | None to date (Project just starting) |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Ingenza |
Organisation | Ingenza Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Formation of Industry Advisory Board. |
Collaborator Contribution | Member of Industry Advisory Board for EP/W019132/1. Advice on fermentation and enzyme production. |
Impact | None to date (project just starting). |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Johnson Matthey |
Organisation | Johnson Matthey |
Department | Johnson Matthey Technology Centre |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Organised Industry Advisory Board. |
Collaborator Contribution | Member of Industry Advisory Board for EP/W019132/1. |
Impact | None to date, project just starting. |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Pall Corporation |
Organisation | PALL Europe |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Organised Industry Advisory Board. |
Collaborator Contribution | Member of Industry Advisory Board for EP/W019132/1. |
Impact | None to date (project just starting). |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | TWI |
Organisation | TWI ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Organisation of Industry Advisory Board. |
Collaborator Contribution | Member of Industry Advisory Board for EP/W019132/1. |
Impact | None to date (Project just starting). |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Unilever |
Organisation | Unilever |
Department | Unilever UK R&D Centre Port Sunlight |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Formation of Industry Advisory Board. |
Collaborator Contribution | Member of Industry Advisory Board for EP/W019132/1. |
Impact | None to date (project just commencing). |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Invited lecture at the Symposium on Biocatalysis & Biomass, QUB |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited lecture at the Symposium on Biocatalysis & Biomass, QUB, 19th July 2022 'The biocatalytic synthesis of amines'. Discussions afterwards. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Invited lecture in Japan at Kyushu University |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited lecture at Kyushu University to staff and students. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Invited lecture in Japan at the Ehime Symposium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | An invited lecture at a symposium in Japan - outcomes in clude future collaborative grants which we are discussing |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Science of Surgery 2023 |
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 | Schools |
Results and Impact | A general public engagement activity as part of UCL's Wellcome/EPSRC centre for Interventional and Surgical Sciences |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |