Natural Resources and the Circular Economy
Intro
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 (http://beaconwales.org/) 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.