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Proof of Concept funds

POC 01: Enzymatic production of brown algae derived polyol diacids

Project lead: Leonardo Gomez
Institute: University of York

Brown algal biomass (both wild and farmed) is exploited for food and food ingredients in parts of Asia and Europe, but remains largely unexploited in the UK despite its natural abundance and potential for farming. Research efforts are trying to develop value chains around brown algae in the UK, both through farming or collection. More […]

POC 02: Novel High-Performance Textile Composites

Project lead: Simon McQueen-Mason
Institute: University of York

The fashion industry, globally worth $700bn, utilised 110 millions tons of fibre in 2018 and has ranked the second most polluting industry in the world. Growing awareness of the impact of human consumption on the environment has led producers and consumers to look for more sustainable feedstocks and processes for textile production. (https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/publications/a-new-textiles-economy-redesigning-fashions-future). Bacterial cellulose […]

POC 03: Improving the economics of poly-B-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) production based on polymerisation of secreted monomers.

Project lead: David Leak
Institute: University of Bath

Poly B-hydroxybutyrate is a biodegradable plastic produced as an intracellular polymer by some bacteria. While it has many potential uses, it is too expensive to produce for general application and is currently only used in specialist applications (eg medical). In this project we intend to explore a different way to produce this polymer, which has the […]

POC 04: WasteWood2Paper: UK based, fully circular and low-cost paper packaging based on waste wood derived cellulose produced in a novel lignocellulose fractionation process

Project lead: Jason Hallett
Institute: Imperial College London

Currently, UK packaging producers use imported, virgin cellulose pulp for manufacturing their paper-based packaging materials and solutions. Meanwhile, industrial waste wood, such as wood pallets, wood chips and wooden off-cuts from the construction industry, is disposed of at a substantial cost due to the presence of metal preservatives and other contaminants. The UK based project […]

POC 05: Seafibres: Production of sustainable fibres from UK sourced seaweed

Project lead: Leonardo Gomez
Institute: University of York

SeaFibres aims to produce sustainable functional fibres derived from UK sourced brown algae. We will harness the potential of seaweed farming for sourcing algae biomass that can be fractionated and used to produce environmentally friendly fibres for specialised applications. At present, seaweed and products derived from them are sourced overseas. Half of the global seaweed […]

POC 06: Sounding out ultrasonic effects for lignin valorisation from organosolv and enzymatic processes (SULVOE)

Project lead: Madeleine Bussemaker
Institute: University of Surrey

Lignin constitutes 20-30% of lignocellulosic biomass, a non-edible biomass containing three intertwined biopolymers – cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. In the UK yearly production of lignocellulosic wastes from agricultural and forestry industries are ~1.3 million tons giving potential lignin availability of more than a quarter of a million tons. Hence lignin valorisation is imperative for economic […]

Business Interaction Vouchers

BIV 01: Transplanting biomass utilisation machinery into an industrial yeast for an affordable bioproduction

Project lead: Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro
Institute: Imperial College London

This project aims to combine the expertise of the academic partner in engineering substrate utilisation in the industrial yeast Yarrowia lipolytica with previously engineered strains that produce high value products created by the technology of the industrial partner. The final goal of this project is to facilitate the path towards commercialisation of high value bioproducts […]

BIV 02:Bio-loading impact study on downstream hydrolysis and fermentation of autoclaved fibre from the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW)

Project lead: Jessica Adams
Institute: Aberystwyth University

Approximately half of the domestic waste produced in the UK is still not recycled and much is either, burnt to produce energy releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, or placed in landfill with the consequent release of methane; a gas over twenty times more potent than CO2 in terms of its potential for retaining heat in […]

BIV 03: Can green seaweed provide a new bio-based route for the production of acrylic acid in the context of biorefineries?

Project lead: Thierry Tonon
Institute: University of York

Acrylic acid is a platform chemical used to produce esters which are polymerized for applications in paper treatment, plastic additives, textiles, sealants, adhesives and surface coatings. It is also an important starting material for superabsorbent polymers, which are widely used in diapers and other hygiene products. The market value of acrylate is expected to reach […]

BBNet funds awarded

Proof of Concept funds

POC 01: Enzymatic production of brown algae derived polyol diacids

POC 02: Novel High-Performance Textile Composites

POC 03: Improving the economics of poly-B-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) production based on polymerisation of secreted monomers.

POC 04: WasteWood2Paper: UK based, fully circular and low-cost paper packaging based on waste wood derived cellulose produced in a novel lignocellulose fractionation process

POC 05: Seafibres: Production of sustainable fibres from UK sourced seaweed

POC 06: Sounding out ultrasonic effects for lignin valorisation from organosolv and enzymatic processes (SULVOE)

Business Interaction Vouchers

BIV 01: Transplanting biomass utilisation machinery into an industrial yeast for an affordable bioproduction

BIV 02:Bio-loading impact study on downstream hydrolysis and fermentation of autoclaved fibre from the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW)

BIV 03: Can green seaweed provide a new bio-based route for the production of acrylic acid in the context of biorefineries?

Funds awarded

The latest news from the Biomass Biorefinery Network

Joint POC Call: The Carbon Recycling Network and BBNet

BBNet and HVB ECR Workshop: An Early Career Researcher Toolkit for the Bioeconomy

Biomass policy statement: a strategic view on the role of sustainable biomass for net zero

1st BBNet Conference 13-15/10/2021- REVIEWS!

POC call up to £50K.