BBSRC Portfolio Analyser
Award details
Pilot Algal Lipid Manufacturing in the United Kingdom (PALM-UK)
Reference
BB/N010388/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor
Dr Olga Sayanova
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Professor Johnathan Napier
Institution
Rothamsted Research
Department
Plant Sciences
Funding type
Research
Value (£)
694,768
Status
Completed
Type
Research Grant
Start date
01/01/2016
End date
31/03/2019
Duration
39 months
Abstract
A biorefinery uses biomass rather than crude oil to produce energy or chemicals. The term 'biorefinery' is routinely articulated in IB circles, but the concept has, as yet, never been fully realised. The objective of this project is to generate robust process economics for a fully-fledged biorefinery that will not just break even but, moreover, prove highly profitable. If successful, the project will generate £24.5m investment from the Malaysian Govt. to realise the technology at scale. The project will involve functionalising microalgae to produce a range of products that can be separated using a low-cost, continuous flow, downstream processing system. It is innovative in that it will marry the best aspects of the conventional oil refinery (100% feedstock utilisation & high throughputs) with the best aspects of IB (functional complexity and environmentally benign processing).
Summary
A biorefinery uses biomass rather than crude oil to produce energy or chemicals. The term 'biorefinery' is routinely articulated in IB circles, but the concept has, as yet, never been fully realised. The objective of this project is to generate robust process economics for a fully-fledged biorefinery that will not just break even but, moreover, prove highly profitable. If successful, the project will generate £24.5m investment from the Malaysian Govt. to realise the technology at scale. The project will involve functionalising microalgae to produce a range of products that can be separated using a low-cost, continuous flow, downstream processing system. It is innovative in that it will marry the best aspects of the conventional oil refinery (100% feedstock utilisation & high throughputs) with the best aspects of IB (functional complexity and environmentally benign processing).
Impact Summary
As described in proposal submitted to IUK
Committee
Not funded via Committee
Research Topics
Industrial Biotechnology, Microbiology, Plant Science
Research Priority
X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative
Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst (IBCAT) [2014-2015]
Funding Scheme
X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
Associated awards:
BB/N010396/1 Pilot Algal Lipids Manufacturing in the UK (PALM-UK)
I accept the
terms and conditions of use
(opens in new window)
export PDF file
back to list
new search