Biotechnical refining of industrial side-streams (BIOSTREAM)

Purpose and goal

The main aim of the project was to develop new knowledge and enzymatic processes to enable production of new added-value products from biorefinery side-streams rich in hemicellulose. It was shown that the target products within the functional food and in the detergent area are practically possible to produce from hemicellulose. The project has at large fulfilled the over-arching goal and several of the detailed tasks. The project has established new knowledge and strengthened the research and innovation environment.

Expected results and effects

“Green” and environmentally friendly biotech processes have been explored, which have the potential to contribute to lowered environmental impact compared to chemical processes. With renewable hemicellulose as starting material we developed two routes of enzymatic hemicellulose conversion and showed that the resulting products have the desired properties. The project contributed with new knowledge and hands on experience to future strategies. Work in the direction of the project will continue.

Planned approach and implementation

The development of the cross disciplinary team involving academia and industry strengthened the research environment and increased industrial interaction. The team worked very well together and the collaboration strengthened the research and innovation within biotechnology for biorefineries. Informal interaction within the project as well as regular meetings with all partners contributed to a good collaboration