BBI2019.SO2.R5 – Convert plant oils and fats into safe high-added-value products for various applications including food and personal care
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.SO2.R5
- Enzyme assisted aqueous fat/protein extraction - We have extensive experience in the use of enzymes for biomass conversion and fractionation. Given that the topic targets the refinement of plant oils and fats at milder conditions, we consider an enzymatic approach to be most appropriate. These enzymes could allow for aqueous extraction, so reducing the consumption of solvents, and could also simultaneously extract proteins as well as fats. This is particularly important as it addresses the call's requirement for 'improved valorisation routes for side streams and co-products resulting from the plant oils extraction phase'.
- Pressurised liquid extraction - We have 6 automated pressurised liquid extractors that can each process up to 24 samples in sequence. This will allow for a wide array of solvents and conditions to be tested so that the target of milder conditions (yet with optimal yields) can be achieved.
- Analysis of lipids/fats - We can determine the physical and chemical properties of the fats and their products of conversion. For example, we can undertake FAME (fatty acid methyl ester) analysis, antioxidant activity/property testing, and a determination of total phenolics.
- Analysis of residue streams - The side streams can be characterised for their carbohydrate and amino acid profiles and we can evaluate whether additional modules can be integrated to the facility to recover/valorise these.
- Rapid analysis models - For the feedstocks and their prodcts of conversion. We can use our expertise in chemometrics and near infrared spectroscopy (we are the only company providing NIR commercial analysis packages for the lignocellulosic composition of biomass) to develop models to predict the compositon at various process nodes in the conversion technologies being developed.
Specific Challenge of BBI2019.SO2.R5
Plant oils and fats are a promising feedstock for high-value products with new functionalities and properties for applications in food, personal care, cosmetics and in the chemical industry, among others. However, current processing conditions for refining the feedstock can cause undesired or toxic impurities and possibly also potentially carcinogenic compounds. Also, current refining processes have either a high energy demand or result in high oil losses, while the side streams bring in low value.The specific challenge is to refine plant oils and fats at milder conditions, with high yields and delivering safe, high quality products.
Scope of BBI2019.SO2.R5
Validate applicable innovative technologies to refine plant oils and fats at milder conditions than current practices, resulting in high yields of the desired high-value products with new functions and properties, without the formation of genotoxic and potentially carcinogenic compounds.This topic is about plant oils and fats originating from side streams of main processes, thus it excludes virgin plant oils and fats as feedstock. The scope also excludes fuels as the main product. Proposals should also develop new or improved valorisation routes for side streams and co-products resulting from the plant oils extraction phase to achieve a maximally possible added value.
Proposals should address all requirements for RIA as shown in Table 3 in the Introduction. The technology readiness level (TRL) at the end of the project should be 4-5 for the bio-based value chain in question. Proposals should clearly state the starting and end TRLs of the key technology or technologies targeted in the project.
Industry participation in the project would be considered as an added value because it can play a supportive role to demonstrate the potential for integrating the developed concepts and technologies into current industrial landscapes or existing plants so they can be deployed more quickly and scaled up to apply industry-wide.