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Pilot Algal Lipids Manufacturing in the UK (PALM-UK)

ReferenceBB/N010396/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Professor Michael Allen
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Institution Plymouth Marine Laboratory
DepartmentPlymouth Marine Lab
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 270,657
StatusCompleted
TypeResearch Grant
Start date 01/01/2016
End date 31/12/2018
Duration36 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 TopicsIndustrial Biotechnology, Microbiology, Plant Science
Research PriorityX – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst (IBCAT) [2014-2015]
Funding SchemeX – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
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