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"Green" credentials of biotechnology
The Peterborough-based Centre for Sustainable Engineering (CSEng) has packaged its expertise to advise industry on how to use biotechnologies to reduce energy consumption and minimise waste.
The Peterborough-based Centre for Sustainable Engineering (CSEng) has packaged its expertise to advise industry on how to use biotechnologies to reduce energy consumption and minimise waste.Biotechnologies can provide sustainable feedstocks for energy and low carbon materials, and energy efficient and low waste processes. Bioprocesses and biofeedstocks can provide economic benefits for industry.
"What we aim to do now is expand the market penetration of biotechnologies in the UK to realise bigger benefits," said senior bioscientist at CSEng Bianca Forte.
"In many industries economic gains can be realised and environmental damage can be prevented by replacing chemical and physical processes with biological alternatives. However, these biological applications can be specific, so it is important that potential end users communicate with biotech companies to allow the development of new products. We are here to bridge this gap."
Bio-processes have lowered requirements for energy and chemicals and reduced secondary waste production in a number of industrial sectors.
In textile production, enzymes have superseded chemicals for bleaching of jeans. Chlorine consumption by the pulp and paper industry has been reduced by the use of enzymes. In leather processing, enzymes have been introduced to replace harsh chemicals traditionally used for cleaning the hide. In resource management, anaerobic micro-organisms degrade the organic fraction of waste while producing biogas – an increasingly valuable fuel – as well as other outputs of value.
Bianca said that there is also plenty of scope for product development using biofeedstocks.
"The first wave of this has been successful, with most car manufacturers now using crop fibres such as hemp and flax in body panels, but the next wave will involve greater sophistication," she said.
"CSEng is already working with companies developing advanced high performance composites which incorporate natural fibres and resins, and we are keen to expand their application to many consumer and industrial products."
A third area of "bio-cleantech" is adapting the successful engineering found in nature, which usually does things without a lot of energy input and no waste or toxins ("biomimetics").
Bianca added: "Did you know that the geometry of whale fins can provide streamlining benefits if applied to objects moving through a fluid or help reduce the huge amount of pumping energy used in the water industry? Or that spider silk is seven times stronger than steel, and that it is now being mimicked?"
Biotechnologies also provide opportunities for product innovation which benefit the consumer.
For instance, the grease and protein digesting enzymes in washing powders significantly reduce the quantity of detergents needed for a given washing and also reduce the washing temperature. Not only does this improve the environmental performance of that product, but the costs savings for the consumer are considerable.
The Centre for Sustainable Engineering offers its expertise in bioprocesses, biofeedstocks, and biomimetics to companies interested in developing or adopting more sustainable products and processes.
The centre also manages technology development projects, implements technologies in joint ventures and leverages finance for technology developers.
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