CarboNor Converting carbohydrate polymers from Nordic algal biomass into high-value biotech products

Important results from the project

The main objectives of the project were to exploit algal biomass materials (i.e. Laminaria hyperborea, a type of abundant kelp in Scandinavia) as a source of bioactive and structural carbohydrate polymers to derive two high-value products, with applications in multiple sectors, e.g. the cosmetics, biopharmaceutical and material sectors.

Expected long term effects

The project has delivered new processes to the marine biotech sector for the production of bioactive molecules and carbohydrate polymers from kelps. These include derivatives of alginate and cellulose as well as materials formulations derived from these compounds. The processes are scalable and the materials are relevant to a whole range of sectors, including, but not limited to, the cosmetics, biopharmaceutical and composite materials sectors.

Approach and implementation

The processes developed involve green approaches that are also scalable and can be used in an industrial context. Market analysis and translation to concrete commercial products are now possible using the information generated from the research, in particular the actual technical steps involved as well as the properties of the products generated by comparing these with competing products available on the market from other sources.