BBI2019.SO1.D2 – Produce components for various materials, including for food and feed, from microalgae
Background
This is a topic in the 2019 work programme of the Biomass Based Industries Joint Undertaking which was launched in April 2019. The deadline for submitting proposals to this call is September 4th 2019, with the results expected by the end of the year and projects expected to start in 2020.Celignis is an SME that was spun-out from an EU research project (the FP7 advanced biofuels project DIBANET) that was written and coordinated by Celignis's founder Daniel Hayes. It has now been five years since the end of that project and over that time Celignis has grown in size and reputation and now occupies a valuable niche as being the premier analytical provider to clients in the biomass sector. We provide a wide range of compositional analysis services and bioprocessing expertise to a diverse array of customers (including SMEs, multinationals, and universities) looking to utilise biomass feedstocks, residues and wastes for the production of biobased products, biofuels, and energy.
But we have not lost sight of the importance of science and in advancing the start of the art. We were born from pioneering research and we are still passionately committed to playing our part in advancing the bioeconomy. As a result we continue to be highly active in European research projects and are particularly excited by the calls presented in the 2019 BBI work programme.
Celignis is a partner in 2 ongoing BBI projects, BIOrescue and UNRAVEL. These are RIA (Research and Innovation Action) projects. Click here to read more about our involvements in these BBI projects. Celignis is also a partner in an Innovation Action (i.e. Demonstration scale) BBI project that is currently in the Grant Agreement stage and is expected to start in September 2019. In addition to these BBI projects, Celignis is also a partner in the Horizon 2020 Coordinating and Supporting Action project ENABLING. As we are a spin-out company from an EU research project we are well-versed in the preparation of proposals and in the implementation of projects.
Below we present a summary of this topic and indicate how Celignis could be a valuable project partner. Click here to see more details on our relevant expertise as well as summaries of how we can contribute to the other topics in the 2019 BBI work programme.
Contributions Celignis can Make to BBI2019.SO1.D2
- Algae analysis for a spectrum of high-value products - We have existing methods for the characterisation of carbohydrates, amino acids, and lipids in samples. We can potentially use our array of advanced analytical equipment to determine other important high-value constituents in algae (e.g. biofunctional molecules, pigments, antioxidants etc).
- Analysis of feed streams for heterotrophic or mixotrophic cultivations - such feed for algae production typically comes from industrial or agricultural by-product streams. We can characterise these streams for their nutrient contents and any constituents that could potentially be toxic or inhibitory to algal growth. Coupled with nutrient and heavy metal analyses of the algae themselves we can see how efficiently these streams are being utilised and whether any accumulation of toxins occurs.
- Pressurised liquid extraction for algal biomass fractionation, pre-treatment, and downstream processing - We can test an array of different solvents and extraction conditions in order to optimise parameters prior to scaled-up processing activities.
- Development of rapid analysis models for various stages of the demonstrated process - We have extensive experience in the development of rapid analysis techniques for determining the composition of the feedstock and the intermediates and products of the process. These models can be based on near infrared spectroscopy, or other spetroscopic analysis methods, coupled with the use of advanced chemometric algorithms which we have developed custom code for in R-Studio as part of our ongoing BBI project BIOrescue. These models can be tested at-line or in-line at the demonstration facility and potentially linked to process control software to allow rapid responsive decisions to be made based on the analytical data obtained.
Specific Challenge of BBI2019.SO1.D2
Due to their high productivity and their potential for avoiding competition with arable lands, microalgae are regarded as a valuable feedstock for biorefining operations. Microalgae are a potential source of molecules for a wide range of novel high-value products in different applications such as energy, fuel, food, feed, pharmaceutical and cosmetics.However, their current production scale and costs are holding back full-scale commercialisation steps.
The main challenges regard:
- efficiency of the cultivation method (in terms of growth rate and product synthesis rate);
- harvesting and separation of the microalgal biomass from the culture medium;
- pre-treatment of the algal biomass to release its components (mainly lipids, proteins, carbohydrates) for further conversion; and
- the further conversion steps themselves
Growth rate and productivity of microalgae are affected by a number of factors such as availability of nutrients in the right amounts and compositions, presence of actinomycetes or other fungi, pH, light intensity and temperature. Open pond systems have relatively low capital costs and high scalability but may feature uneven mixing and nutrition conditions and are vulnerable to contamination and intrusion of alien species. Photobioreactor and closed-loop systems allow to better control growth conditions, but on the other hand require higher capital costs as well as higher maintenance costs.
Harvesting of microalgae is challenging and expensive due to small cell size and relatively low concentration. Several pre-treatment methods are employed, depending on the feedstock and desired products (chemical, enzymatic, physical, involving ionic liquids). The wide variability of microalgal feedstock composition and optimal growth conditions means that there is no one-fits-all solution; cultivation, harvesting and processing must be tailored to each species and targeted product.
The specific challenge is to scale up and lower the costs of microalgae cultivation combined with downstream processing towards commercial valorisation of marketable products.
Scope of BBI2019.SO1.D2
Demonstrate the efficient and sustainable cultivation, recovery and processing of microalgae and downstream production of high-value chemicals and/or materials including food and feed ingredients.The scope of this topic excludes energy carriers (such as liquid fuels or hydrogen) as the main products.
Proposals should aim for large-scale continuous cultivation and recovery of microalgae, as well as separation and purification of the targeted products.
Proposals should also aim at reducing inputs for microalgae cultivation such as energy, water, nutrients and CO2 (or other carbon sources in case heterotrophic microalgae are envisaged). Proposals should valorise as many as possible of the valuable compounds contained in the microalgae through a cascading approach.
Proposals should demonstrate that the quality of the obtained products meets the requirements of specific market applications.
The technology readiness level (TRL) at the end of the project should be 6-7. Proposals should clearly state the starting and end TRLs of the key technology or technologies targeted in the project.