The SCALIBUR project has released a set of videos explaining innovative technologies under development to transform urban biowaste streams into high added-value industrial products.
Each video adresses a different biowaste stream and technology:
- From household food waste to biopolymers and biopesticides – Biowaste is biochemically converted by an innovative enzymatic hydrolysis treatment, using optimised enzymatic cocktails. The solid hydrolysate is further processed, using solid state fermentation to produce biopesticides. The liquid hydrolysate will be further tested to produce biopesticides. The liquid hydrolysate will be upgraded by fermentation into biodegradable polyesters, which will be processed into bioplastic films for food packaging.
- From retail food waste to protein, lipids, and chitin – Insect rearing is used to convert kitchen and restaurant scraps into a rich biomass, which is converted into products via extraction and fractionation. The resulting protein, lipids and chitin will be validated for food and feed applications. The use of chitin for the production of reinforcement bioplastics and biomaterials for food packaging will be tested.
- From sewage sludge to biofertilisers, bioplastics and compounds – An innovative start-to-end valorisation process is being develoepd. The sludge will first be subjected to pretreatment and anaerobic bioconversion. CO2 contained in biogas will be upgraded via bioelectrochemical treatment into alcohol and organic acids: high value chemicals for industrial purposes. In parallel, another pilot will valorise surplus sewage sludge. Pretreatment is followed by a fermentation phase. Green solvents will be used to extract PHA biopolymers, which will be processed into bioplastics and biomaterials for packaging.
In the SCALIBUR project, leading waste management companies, technology developers and research organisations have teamed up with four European cities to demonstrate innovative solutions to transform urban food waste and sewage sludge into high value-added products, helping cities to increase their recycling rate and creating new circular economy business opportunities. Find out more on the project website.
Greenovate! Europe is leading activies to increase the impact of the project, including Communication, Dissemination and Replication actions.
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