BIOASSORT

"Improvement of technologies and tools, e.g. biosystems and biocatalysts, for waste conversion to develop an assortment of high added value eco-friendly and cost-effective bio-products"

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The overall aim of this program is to improve technologies and biological tools for conversion of wastes that are abundantly discharged in EU, by eco-friendly and eco-efficient production of high added values bioproducts such as ligno-cellulolytic enzymes, fuel ethanol (EtOH), polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). One of the main objectives is enlarging the patrimony of microbes for waste valorisation by i) screening the assortment of thousand microbes belonging to the collections of Brazilian and Indian partners to select the microbes most efficient in producing enzymes, EtOH, LA, PHAs ii) discovering novel strains with high potential of production of these products exploring the biodiversity of micro flora from India and Brazil and iii) exchanging technologies and tools developed by different EU and ICPC partners for genetic engineering of different microbes. Optimization of processes for production of different products and assessment of their economic and environmental feasibility will be performed with the above microbes taking advantage from the complementary consolidated expertises of the partners. Partners will have open access to complex databases developed during program implementation on the microbial patrimony of the network and the main systems, tools and technologies developed. Besides training through research performed during secondments of researchers to implement the above scientific activities, transfer of knowledge will be also achieved by summer schools, workshops and intensive virtual networking activities, covering not only scientific but also parallel sectors. Staff exchanges and networking activities between European and Indian and Brazilian research organisations will strengthen research partnerships. Dissemination of program results and best practices to external target groups to improve social acceptance and public perception of the new processes and materials and their exploitation in the market will be carried out.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An EU initiative is improving technologies and biological tools for waste conversion into high-added value products using environmentally friendly methods. These products include ligno-cellulolytic enzymes, fuel ethanol (EtOH), polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).

Descrizione progetto (Article)

One of the main objectives of the EU-funded BIOASSORT (Improvement of technologies and tools, e.g. biosystems and biocatalysts, for waste conversion to develop an assortment of high added value eco-friendly and cost-effective bio-products) project is to increase the range of microbes and enzymes used for waste valorisation. This is being done by screening thousands of microorganisms held in the collections of Brazilian and Indian partners. The aim is to select those most efficient in producing enzymes, EtOH, PLA and PHAs.

Different fungal species such as Aspergillus, Pleurotus and Lentinus have already been assessed for their ability to break down lignin, cellulose and xylan. Screening for new organisms producing lactic acid and ethanol led to the selection of one bacterium, Lactobacillus acidophilus LPB-04, and the strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae LPB-287.

Researchers have also explored the microflora biodiversity of India (India's Western Ghats region) to discover new strains with a high potential for production of these added value bioproducts such as microbes that produce higher concentrations of enzymes capable of breaking down cellulose and xylan. In addition, project partners will exchange the different tools and technologies they have developed for the genetic engineering of different microbes.

BIOASSORT is also investigating waste formulations and optimising pre-treatment processes for preparing mechanically pre-treated wastes for conversion. The waste products studied include brewers' spent grains and newspaper waste. The conversion methods compared were ammonium fibre expansion, diluted acid treatment and biological systems.

Processes are being optimised for production of different products using the selected microorganisms, drawing on the expertise of all the research partners. Participating organisations will also have open access to databases and tools and technologies developed over the project's lifetime.

Secondment of researchers, summer schools and intensive virtual networking activities will all help to contribute to the transfer of knowledge between project partners. Furthermore, the dissemination of results and best practices to target groups will help to improve public perception and acceptance of the new processes and materials in the marketplace.