Biorefining and the Bioeconomy

 

Intro

Natural Resources and the Circular Economy

This planet is facing a crisis point resulting from environmental mismanagement and the need to feed a growing population while providing other resources necessary to sustain the economy. Manufacturing is largely based on unsustainable linear production systems that deplete finite resources while generating large volumes of waste that are mostly sent to landfill. A circular economy is a contrasting approach based on closed loop systems that minimise waste by converting it through regenerative technologies keeping resources in use as long as possible. This concept is embedded in the research vision of the IBERS team working in the area of Biomass Conversion and Biorefining, which is to develop new biobased products and processes to advance the transition towards a circular bioeconomy.

The key priorities are:

1) economic and environmental sustainability of biobased products developed through biorefining processes

2) resource use efficiency, including recapture of process water and other components for either retention within the biorefining process system or land reapplication to sustain primary productivity. By using biorefining routes to close loops in agricultural and food production systems, the BCB aims to deliver economically sustainable carbon-neutral solutions that will support societal well-being.

Research & Capabilities

Research Focus and Capability

Capability

Our current research programmes at IBERS are focussed on the development and optimisation of enabling technologies combined with bio-process design covering technology readiness levels (TRL) 1 to 5. This involves taking projects from the conceptual stage through to industrially relevant scales, utilising our pilot-scale facilities (e.g. BEACON (https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/ibers/research-facilities/biorefining/) and Aberinnovation (https://aberinnovation.com/).

Specific areas of expertise and capability include:

  • synthetic biology including enzyme and microbial discovery and development (TRL 1-3) 
  • bulk separation and extraction technologies (TRL 2-5); biomass thermochemical and biochemical pretreatment (TRL 2-5)
  • fermentation science (TRL 2-5)
  • anaerobic digestion (TRL 1-3)
  • down-stream processing and purification (TRL 2-5).

We work on multiple feedstocks such as energy crops, agricultural straws, sugarcane bagasse, brewers spent grains, seaweeds, municipal solid waste, potato processing waste, for the production of multiple products for the health food, cosmetic, green solvent, biocomposite, bioenergy and bioplastics/packaging industries.

 

Research helping to build a circular economy

IBERS researchers are working in a number of areas that will contribute to the development of the circular economy, highlighted areas include:


A) Lactic acid for bioplastic production from municipal solid waste; this work is the culmination of research through a number of funding streams including 2 Innovate UK projects and a Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (Horizon 2020 funding) and includes the building of a demonstration scale facility with tech-transfer from Aberystwyth University.

B) Xylitol from agricultural straws; the biotechnological production of xylitol, a natural sweetener that prevents tooth decay in children, contains »70% the caloric value of table sugar and is compatible with diabetics has been funded by Climate-KIC, through the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), the Welsh Government, Innovate UK, the Plants to Products BBSRC NiBB and the BBSRC and Newton Fund culminating in the launch of an AU spin-out company ARCITEKBIO Ltd to commercialise the technology.

C) Protein and bioactive metabolites from food waste; this work originated from a series of research programmes funded by Innovate UK and Welsh Government.

Projects & Grants

Project / Grants

Main Projects

  • Production of Lactic acid from Municipal Solid Waste. Innovate UK TS/R010544/1 (2018-2021)
  • Bio-loading impact study on downstream hydrolysis and fermentation of autoclaved fibre from the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW) (BBSRC BBNet BIV) (2020)
  • Biologically Derived Polyesters and Polyamides - Production, Processing and Circular Life (BioPOL4Life). Ser Cymru capacity building acceleration award (WG) (2020-2023)
  • Integrated approach to explore a novel paradigm for biofuel production from lignocellulosic feedstocks. BBSRC/FESPESP (2017-2021), -https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/projects/an-integrated-approach-to-explore-a-novel-paradigm-for-biofuel-pr
  • Valuable insects: Insects for sources of food and ingredients (ValuSect). European Interreg (2021-2023) -https://www.nweurope.eu/projects/project-search/valusect/

Outputs

Key Outputs

  • Gallagher J, Lee A, Fish S., Morris SM (2015) Prebiotic Composition– Novel prebiotics from grassland WO2015/075440 A1 European Patent granted.
  • Bryant D, Gallagher J, Morris SM, Winters A, Donnison I, Harding G, Tims-Taravella E, Thomas D, Leemans D (2014) Bioethanol production from high sugar grasses WO2014/023978 Patent Granted
  • Davies D, Merry R, Winters A, Bakewell (2000) An inoculant for the ensilage of plant material comprises at least one Lactobacillus strain having fructan degrading properties.  GB2356125A

Group Members

Principal Investigators

Dr Ana Winters (Group Lead)

Prof. Joe Gallagher

Dr Jessica Adams

Dr David Bryant

 

Postdoctorate Researchers

Dr David Warren-Walker

Dr Alun Hughes

Dr Valerie Rodrigues

Mr Ali Raza

Technical Support

Mrs Sian Jones

Mr Damon Hammond

Mr David Thomas

 

PhD Students

Ms Esther Amayo
Mr Will Barnes
Ms Gwyneth Jones
Ms Jennifer Griffiths
Ms Ellen Ziu (with Dept. Comp. Sci.)
Mr Simon Longworth (with Dept. Geography & Earth Sci.)

Publications

Publications

Morris, H, Coombes, Z, El Dor, Z, Rodrigues, VJ, Silkina, A, Marschese, P, Murphy, M, Adams, JMM, Barry, F, Fuentes-Grünewald, C, Rachidi, W & Gonzalez, D 2026, 'Algae-Derived Bioactive Compounds as Platforms for Translational Biotechnology and Health Applications', BioTech, vol. 15, no. 2, 34. https://doi.org/10.3390/biotech15020034
Giles, H, Gallagher, J, Warren-Walker, D, Bull, SP, Lignou, S, Methven, L & Hughes, A 2026, 'An investigative study into the suitability of the Bradford assay for rapid protein determination in whey', Food Chemistry, vol. 499, 147375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.147375
Brown, AE, Adams, JMM, Camargo-Valero, MA & Ross, AB 2026, 'Energy Valorisation of Fucus serratus via the Integration of Hydrothermal Carbonisation and Anaerobic Digestion: Influence of Seawater as a Reactant Medium', Energies, vol. 19, no. 7, 1699. https://doi.org/10.3390/en19071699
Sandoval, JF, Parker, JK, Gallagher, J, Rodriguez-Garcia, J, Whiteside, K & Bryant, DN 2026, 'Modelling the odor profile of fungal Solid-State Fermentation', npj Science of Food, vol. 10, no. 1, 196. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-025-00627-0
Giles, H, Hughes, A, Gallagher, J, Faka, M, Bull, SP, Lignou, S, Methven, L & Warren-Walker, D 2026, 'Optimising α-Lactalbumin Recovery from Whey via Membrane Filtration: The Role of Transmembrane Pressure Across Membranes Varying in Polymer Type and Pore Size', Food and Bioprocess Technology, vol. 19, no. 4, 172, pp. 172. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11947-026-04241-0
Griffiths, JC, Nikolaou, CK & Adams, JMM 2026, 'Seaweed on my lunch tray: Challenges and opportunities for including macroalgae in Welsh school meals', Applied Phycology, vol. 7, no. 1, 2605065. https://doi.org/10.1080/26388081.2025.2605065
Giles, H, Bull, SP, Lignou, S, Hughes, A, Warren-Walker, D, Gallagher, J, Faka, M & Methven, L 2026, 'The sensory and physicochemical properties of an α-lactalbumin enriched whey protein and the contribution of minerals to the sensory profile', International Dairy Journal, vol. 178, 106616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idairyj.2026.106616
Sandoval, JF, Parker, JK, Gallagher, J, Rodriguez-Garcia, J, Whiteside, K & Bryant, DN 2026, 'Transforming the odor profile of perennial ryegrass protein and surplus bread crusts through solid-state fermentation', npj Science of Food, vol. 10, no. 1, 197. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00831-6
Davies-Smith, C, Herbert, J, Martin, C, Khasraw, D, Warren-Walker, D, Bryant, D, Gallagher, J, Allison, G, Steer, J, march, R, Alsawadi, A & Bhatia, R 2025, 'Enhancing biochar quality for the steel industry via Hydrothermal Pretreatment-Steam Explosion and pyrolysis', Bioresource Technology, vol. 437, 133009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2025.133009, https://doi.org/10.17632/ypbr4mb24w.3
Donnison, I, Farrar, K, Kingston-Smith, A, Gallagher, J, Robson, P, Marley, C, Howarth, C, Lloyd, D, Fraser, M, Adams, J, Bryant, D, Yadav, R, Spittle, MJ, Thornton, J, Davies, S (ed.), Cole, A (ed.) & Hodgson, E (ed.) 2025, Innovations for a Changing World: IBERS Impact Case Studies. Prifysgol Aberystwyth | Aberystwyth University. https://doi.org/10.20391/e88e4cc9-0080-4e08-959b-32a02ca2cd79
Vargas-Murga, L, Dürrani, Ö, Adams, J, Steinhagen, S, Turan, G, Aruçi, E, Morrison, L, Wichard, T, Kraan, S & Shpigel, M 2025, 'Metal(oid)s in Ulva: should we be worried?', Food Chemistry, vol. 493, no. Pt 3, 145941, pp. 145941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.145941
Gutierrez Higa, JG, Adekanmbi, AA, Kehoe, S, Sizmur, T, Brown, A & Adams, JMM 2025, 'Plant seedling growth and soil respiration responses to seasonal United Kingdom seaweed wrack extracts', Journal of Applied Phycology, vol. 37, no. 6, pp. 4669-4685. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-025-03664-0
Giles, H, Bull, SP, Lignou, S, Gallagher, J, Faka, M & Methven, L 2025, 'Analysing TCATA citation proportions as a tool to optimise temporal vocabulary selection: a case study of whey protein model beverages', Food Quality and Preference, vol. 133, 105628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105628
Giles, H, Zannidi, D, Clegg, ME, Woodside, JV, McKenna, G, Forde, CG, Bull, SP, Lignou, S, Gallagher, J, Faka, M & Methven, L 2025, 'A systematic review of the factors affecting textural perception by older adults and their association with food choice and intake', Appetite, vol. 214, 108202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2025.108202
Giles, H, P Bull, S, Lignou, S, Gallagher, J, Faka, M, Rodriguez-Garcia, J & Methven, L 2025, 'Co-spray drying whey protein isolate with polysaccharides provides additional lubrication impacting the sensory profile of model beverages', Food Hydrocolloids, vol. 160, 110778. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2024.110778
Sandoval, JF, Gallagher, J, Rodriguez-Garcia, J, Whiteside, K & Bryant, DN 2024, 'Improved nutritional value of surplus bread and perennial ryegrass via solid-state fermentation with Rhizopus oligosporus', npj Science of Food, vol. 8, no. 1, 95. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3973183/v1, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-024-00338-y
Warren-Walker, D, Ravella, SR, Gallagher, J, Winters, A, Charlton, A & Bryant, D 2024, 'Optimising parameters for pilot scale steam explosion and continuous pressurised disc refining of Miscanthus and sugarcane bagasse for xylose and xylo-oligosaccharide release', Bioresource Technology, vol. 405, 130932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130932
Sedgwick, H, Gibson, G, Adams, J & Wijeyesekera, A 2025, 'Seaweed-derived bioactives: Gut microbiota targeted interventions for immune function', Journal of Functional Foods, vol. 125, 106696. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2025.106696
Hofmann, LC, Strauss, S, Shpigel, M, Guttman, L, Stengel, DB, Rebours, C, Gjorgovska, N, Turan, G, Balina, K, Zammit, G, Adams, JMM, Ahsan, U, Bartolo, AG, Bolton, JJ, Domingues, R, Dürrani, Ö, Eroldogan, OT, Freitas, A, Golberg, A, Kremer, KI, Marques, F, Milia, M, Steinhagen, S, Sucu, E, Vargas-Murga, L, Zemah-Shamir, S, Zemah-Shamir, Z & Meléndez-Martínez, AJ 2025, 'The green seaweed Ulva: Tomorrow’s “wheat of the sea” in foods, feeds, nutrition, and biomaterials', Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, vol. 65, no. 19, pp. 3728-3763. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2024.2370489
Rodrigues, VJ, Jouanneau, D, Fernandez-Fuentes, N, Onime, LA, Huws, SA, Odaneth, AA & Adams, JMM 2024, 'Biochemical characterisation of a PL24 ulvan lyase from seaweed-associated Vibrio sp. FNV38', Journal of Applied Phycology, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 697-711. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-023-03136-3

More publications on the Research Portal

Impact Case Stories - Biorefining

Supporting Seaweed Research
Sustainable Sweeteners

 

Accessible Science - Knowledge Exchange

'Accessible Science' is a Knowledge Exchange initiative helping to highlight the significant impact that IBERS research has on addressing the global challenges of food security, dietary health and climate change. It is intended to ensure that research reaches beyond our laboratories and experimental field trials, to deliver real benefits to society by engaging with policy makers, supply chains, agriculture, industry partners and the wider public.

Defossilising steel production with the help of crops

June 2026