USEFUL WASTE

Novel biotechnological approaches for utilizing carbon containing wastes
to make high added value products.
 

The project aims at the sustainable and value-added conversion of waste from slaughterhouses, rendering industry, and waste fractions of the biodiesel production. Slaughterhouse waste is converted towards fatty acid esters (FAMEs, biodiesel). Subsequently FAMEs consisting of saturated fatty acids that negatively influence the biodiesel properties as a fuel are biotechnologically converted towards high-value biopolymers (polyhydroxyalkanoates - PHAs). This brings together waste producers from animal processing industry with meat & bone meal producers, and with the bio-fuel industry, resulting in value creation for all players.

Specific objectives of the project are:

• Design of an integrated industrial process
• Improvement of the quality of biodiesel
• Set up of microbial growth and production phase
• Development of environmentally safe and efficient downstream processing
• Chemical, biological, physical and mechanical characterization of the produced PHAs
• Preparation of blends and composites of the PHAs with selected conventional polymeric materials, inorganic and/or organic fillers.
• Engineering design of PHA production
• Utilization of novel biodegradable plastics