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Description
Researchers from the Chemical and Biochemical Processes Technology Group and the Sugar Technology Center of the University of Valladolid are working together on the recovery of one of the by-products obtained from the biodiesel process, glycerin, an alcohol that is the basis of many pharmaceutical compounds. For every hundred kilograms of biodiesel, approximately ten kilograms of glycerin are produced; a significant amount that the pharmaceutical industry cannot afford. For this reason, they are trying to provide new commercial outlets for this product. It is known that there are many treatment alternatives, but in this case the researchers at the University of Valladolid have opted for one of the ways that involves obtaining products with high added value, such as obtaining precursors used in the production of biodegradable plastics. More deeply, two treatment paths are being worked on. By chemical transformation with selective catalysts, 1,2-propanediol is obtained, while the biochemical route, with microorganisms capable of assimilating glycerin, produces 1,3-propanediol. Another agri-food by-product of great interest is whey. The biochemical use of the existing carbohydrates and/or proteins is of great importance to improve the overall productivity of this type of industry. Researchers at the University of Valladolid are working on the production of organic acids, such as lactic acid or succinic acid, which are used in numerous sectors such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, etc.Other information
Number of researchers:
4
Development status:
In prototype phase
Differentiation in the market:
Quality
Applicability of technology:
Yes
Companies and markets:
Biodiesel production companies Bioplastics: generation and production Renewable Energies: biofuels Waste treatment companies
Advantages:
At present, the massive production of new-generation fuels is causing a series of residues, such as glycerin, which the industry is unable to assimilate. As a result, a large amount of waste is being generated that should be treated and managed like any other industrial waste. Due to glycerin’s nature, it is believed that with a good treatment it could become a raw material for the production of biodegradable plastics, but it is necessary to study which is the best process and under which conditions in order to make it viable on an industrial scale. The Research Group is currently achieving promising results.
Additional Information:
Equipment available: Basic infrastructure in bioprocess laboratory: laminar flow chamber, autoclave, centrifuges, microscope. Orbital incubators. Shaker tank reactors of 250-500 mL. Thermostats. Commercial fermenters of 2.5 L with pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen control. Air-lift and bubble columns photobioreactors. Basic infrastructure in process laboratory: ozone generator. Vapor explosion unit. Full and tubular mixing reactors. High pressure catalytic reactor. Adsorption/ion-exchange columns, laboratory scale. Adsorption/ion-exchange pilot plant. Pervaporation pilot plant-laboratory. Analytic infrastructure: extractive determination unit. Spectrophotometer. HPLC equipment with refractive index, diode array and conductivity detectors. Polarimeter. Refractometer. Selective electrodes. General analysis equipment. Future perspectives: development of consolidated fermentation processes. Optimization of fermentation processes with in situ product recovery. Collaboration in national and international projects in the field of biofuel and bioproduct production from industrial waste and/or by-products. International collaboration in projects from the H2020 program, in line with the priorities set by JTI Biobases Industries. Other interesting facts: belonging to the Sugar Technology Center (CTA) of the University of Valladolid. The group maintains relations with the CIEMAT (Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research), the Biofuels Unit of the Renewable Energies Division, the Biofuels and Bioproducts Center (CBB) managed by ITACyL, and the Higher School of Biotechnology of the Catholic University of Porto (Portugal). The GIR is a member of the Spanish Thematic Network of "Biotechnology of lignocellulosic materials: enzymatic, chemical and molecular challenges for their industrial and environmental application" (LIGNOCEL)UIC 129 (Consolidated Research Unit).
UNESCO Code:
3310 - Industrial technology
Other members:
Santiago Villaverde Gómez
Gerardo González Benito
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