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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BIOSEA (Innovative cost-effective technology for maximizing aquatic biomass-based molecules for food, feed and cosmetic applications)

Teaser

Summary

EU society needs new sustainable bio-based feedstocks to meet population growth and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
In terms of potential market demand in EU, the food and fuel demand are mainly covered by foreign import achieving the 68% of total supply of proteins. Market of bulk chemicals has a substantial demand in EU (2.4x106Tn/year). In this scenario, it is important for EU finding new feedstock to cover its necessity minimizing imports and opening new markets. Aquatic feedstock can be a solution as local resource, however its total production volume (90.4 million Tn/year) in 2012 and market size are still relatively small and large-scale commercial production. In fact, it is far away from competing to land feedstock.
Concretely, algae feedstock market is still facing immature technologies for production and the actual technologies are not specifically designed for algae biorefinery. The evolution in cultivation processes is particularly important since improvements in productivity, quality and composition of the biomass are not only relevant to the upstream processing but have pronounced effects on the downstream and market price, as well in terms of process productivity and efficiency.
The project includes, on the one hand upstream and downstream processing steps for the obtention of selected active compounds and the evaluation of their bioactive properties. Special attention will be paid to the extraction and fractionation/purification of the compounds of interest maximizing yield per mass unit and optimizing the cost (achieving a decrease up to 55% of the production costs) in order to allow a cost-effective scale-up of the process.

Work performed

The main results obtained in the first half of BIOSEA projectsÂ´ activities developments are mainly centered on the cultivation of 2 microalgae (Spirulina platensis and Nannochloropsis galbana) at laboratory and then upscaled at pilot scale in optimized photobioreactors (PBRÂ´s and MUTL). On the other hand, the cultivation of the 2 preselected macroalgae: Ulva ohnoi and Saccharina latissima, at laboratory level and upscaled at pilot scale indoor (Ulva) and, outdoors employing the 2D textile layerÂ´s patented technology (both algae). In addition, important results were obtained in the fractionation methodologies and their upscaling for the obtention of compounds of interest to be validated and employed at industrial level in food, feed and cosmetic industry. Cascading biorefinery approach is developed for the obtention of compounds of interest for the future validation of the BIOSEA process and achievement of innovation and cost-effectiveness of the process. Initial validations and added -value of the active principles were identified, as: antimicrobial effect, protection against UV damage, fat reduction properties and antioxidant properties. Additional compatibility and solubility characterization has been realized in terms of HSP parameters for the previously mentioned compounds of interest.

Final results

Progress beyond the state of the art:

BIOSEA aims at developing innovative methodologies in algae cultivation and process optimization, in order to increase the bioactive compounds production and cost reduction. For macroalgae cultivation are employed novel textile materials and optimized algae culture processes in optimized photobioreactors. Regarding microalgae cultivation, it is applied a new scalable PBR design based on mesh-ultra-thin-layer technology (MUTL) working principles.
In terms of bioactive compounds extraction, separation and purification, BIOSEA aims at using technologies that overcome the gaps existing in the conventional solvent extraction, by focusing on different pre-treatment and alternative extraction methods that reduce cost and negative environmental impacts; on the other hand, optimizing multi-step extraction processes, obtaining a cascading biorefinery approach including pretreatment, fractionation and conversion technologies.
The main innovation aspect in the evaluation of the active principles for the target applications, is based on the analysis of the protein digestibility tests, using modified PDCAAS methodology for overcoming discrepancies with other methodologies. On the other hand, simulated conditions will be used for the rheological properties and in vitro methods for cytotoxicity tests.

Microencapsulation processes will be optimized in terms of parameters adjustments and upscaling of scCO2 and co-extrusion methodology at pilot scale or semi-industrial level, for the first time.

The main results arising from BIOSEA will be:
R1: Specific aquatic biomass suitable for application in food, feed and personal care markets, using both micro and macroalgae from aquatic environment.
R2: New growing conditions of micro- and macroalgae for substantially increased yields.
R3: Isolation of proteic fraction with added value due to its rheological, nutritional, functional properties in food industry and, in feed industry.
R4: Isolation of antioxidants fraction with added value for its natural source, in feed and cosmetic industry.
R5: New eco-efficient/eco-sustainable separation, purification and extraction methodologies for obtaining the maximum yields of the proteic and functional antioxidative fractions (carotenoids) minimizing the use of organic solvents upt to 55%.
R6: Optimized cascading conversion including all required steps of the aquatic biomass and desired compounds achieving a reduction of the process cost up to 55%.
R7: Obtention of at least 6 compounds with specific properties for the different final applications, which can represent raw materials for further formulations for the 3 involved industries.
R8: Functional evaluation of the compounds extracted from aquatic biomass using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model organism.
R9: Validation of final products developed for final applications in food, feed and cosmetic sectors, with improved properties and high added value, reflected in cost-efficiency, improved sensory characteristics and techno-functional properties, which will be measured and ranked.

The project impact is based on innovation.

Innovation in products and production processes, together with sustainability and efficiency at competitive costs are key factors for the European Commission and BBI JU to extend local products, covering the whole value chain, in local markets, reducing imports and promoting exports to new markets. BIOSEA will contribute to the development of the EC strategy for this topic because it will develop competitive and cost-effective alternatives to current traditional resources of nutritional components used for different applications, as food, feed and cosmetics/personal care.
The project offers most of the companies involved new possibilities to improve their innovation capacities and expand their business models. First applications developed under the project will be a first step for further applications in the sectors in