Creating a business case for value added algae
Creating a business case for value added algae bio-refining Anne Christine Steenkjær Hastrup (acha@teknologisk. dk) Center for Wood and Biomaterials, Danish Technological Institute 7 th NORDIC SEAWEED CONFERENCE, 12. October 2017,
Macroalgae as a source for biobased products § Algae is a rich source of valuable components (species dependent) § Polysaccharides: Fuceudan, Alginate, Laminarin, Mannitol etc. § Pigments Proteins / oils § Cellulose fibrils § Antioxidants
Carbohydrates of seaweeds. Brown seaweed Red seaweed Green seaweed Storage Laminarin (β-1, 3 glucan) Cell walls Alginate, fucans, cellulose Floridian starch (amylopectin like glucan) Agar, carrageenan, xylan, cellulose Starch Mannane, ulvane, xylan, cellulose Biochemical composition of seaweed not only varies between the 3 classes, but also varies with species, habitat, maturity, salinity, temperature, irradiance, environmental condition and even within specimen in the same populations (Pavia and Åberg 1996 b; Floreto and Teshima 1998).
Macro-algal resource Brown macroalgae Rest mass: Fermentation biogas and bioprocessing feedstock Energy, platform chemicals, specialties, biopolymers Alginate oligosacchs Fucoidans Laminarin Proteins / oils Pigments / dyes Cellulose fibrils Cellulose nanowhiskers Foods Plant sprays supplements High value nutraceuticals / pharma and cosmetics Fish feed Cosmetics, coatings, materials High performance Bio. Composites / reinforced plastics
Potential uses of macroalgae components in new products § Huge potential in a wide variety of products § Pharma § Health care § Cosmetics § Food / neutraceuticals § Feed / neutraceuticals § Biomaterials § Fertilizers
What is the industry waiting for? § Old news promising biorefinery concepts in lab scale § Pilot scale facility Proof of concept SUBLEEM
SUBLEEM Generic biorefinery pilot plant § 2 year R&D project (March 2016 – May 2018) § Supported by Fund for Green Business Development § 10 participating organisations:
Objective - Create a hub for companies and projects to develop and test their ideas for “value-added products” - A pilot scale facility can validate economical viability of the biorefining processes of biomasses - Generate sample material for product test, animal feed trials and initial product development
From Bio to Business Idea Concept development Prototype Documentation Market development Value-added processing of biomass - Through enzymatic hydrolysis
Added-value biorefining - Cascading utilisation of Biomass § Approach Enzymatic process to gently extract targeted components § To potentially extract - Proteins - Fibers - Polysaccharides - Waxes - Oils - Secondary metabolites - Etc…
Biorefining pilot plant Generic pilot plant for cascading valorization of bio-based resource through bio-refining
SUBLEEM pilot plant - Wet fractionation lab
Versatility
Fractionation and separation
Generic Wet Process § Optional § Mixing biomass and Water § Screw pressing § Potentially use selected enzymes § Extruding § Hydrolysis processing § Super critical extraction § Slurry deactivation § Ultra filtration § Physical separation § Enzymatic refining of § Concentration of liquid § Drying solids aqueous slurries
Cascading extraction of (the most) valuable components Simple and gentle hydrolysis steps Low price Functional products Non-optimal used biomass SUBLEEM Bioraf. Process $ Fiber-fraction ß-glucans (food, cosmetics, pharma. . ) $$ Protein-extract Materials Etc … Fertilizer Feed Bioenergy $ $$ Other high value products omega-3 fatty acid (food, feed. . ) Pigments (cosmetics, food. . ) Food Feed Etc… Cosmetics Adhesives Polysaccharides (cosmetics, pharma, food. . . ) Ect…
Brown macroalgae: New approach -> added value focus Brown algal Thalli Enzymatic process: Thinning of alginate Main extraction Residue Fibrillar extract for processing / testing Rest mass: Refinery ? ? Low mw algins Laminarin beta glucans and fucoidans Protein peptides /Oils Tannins / pigments microfibrils Plant sprays, root compound, func. foods Functional food, nutraceuticals, pharma, Foods, nutraceuticals, fish feed Foods, coatings, textiles Foods, biocomposites, bioplastic reinforcing
Basis Is there fora business case ? ? § LCA § Business case GWP [kg. CO 2 -eq/kg. PROTEIN] GWP from protein production - Scenario comparison 20 10 0 -10 -20 -30 1. 1 Protein 1. 2 Protein 1. 3 Protein 1. 4 Protein from green from insects grass in rapemeal in soybean in in Denmark Argentina
Business models Proof of concept • The product • Pilot trial, kg • Product development • Marked test • Stability • Packaging • Safety • Legislation, IPR etc. Proof of market Sales / organisation • Demonstration scale production, Production in tons Proof of business Sales / organisation - economy • Demonstration business model • Production of products • The product – what are we offering costumers ? • The sale - how do we sell it ? • The organisation – how do we produce it ? • The economy – how do we earn money from it ?
Resource optimization and business development from bio-based resources - Evaluation of biomass potential in rest resources - Development of separation technologies and (enzymatic) hydrolysis processes in lab- and pilot scale in - Product development of sustainable products from bio-based resources - Business models and value chain creation from cascading use of biomass
Thanks for your attention ! Your are welcome to visit us at: Danish Technological Institute, Gregersensvej 3, Taastrup Any questions ? ? Anne Christine Steenkjær Hastrup (acha@dti. dk)
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