Selective Extraction of Valuable Food Processing Components using Ionic Liquids EXCIL

The EXCIL project is focused on recovery of high value components from food processing co-products. Specifically we are interested in the recovery of glycosamino glycans (GAGs) from fish and shellfish byproducts and chitin and polyphenols from brewing waste streams.
The key technology being used within the project is ionic liquids. Ionic Liquids (ILs) are innovative solvents which can provide a high level of selectivity in recovering specific components from complex mixtures. ILs can be considered as 'designer solvents' as their properties can be tailored to meet the requirements of a specific process. These solvents are also generally low toxicity and have no vapour pressure; they are often considered as green alternatives to traditional organic solvents.
Key objectives of this project are to develop extraction methods for target components and obtain samples of extracted materials to evaluate their properties in nutritional or cosmetic applications. Processes developed will also be up-scaled during the project and the environmental and economic viability demonstrated through a robust LCA and techno-economic assesment.