Feasibility study 1 – implementation of a shellfish shell valorisation scheme
Date: 2021
Funded through a grant awarded by the region of Brussels, Belgium, the Ivamer Institute was commissioned by ROR to conduct our initial feasibility study on chitin extraction from marine waste products. The study confirmed that crustacean exoskeletons contain significantly higher chitin content compared to other natural resources. It also highlighted that most current extraction methods rely on environmentally damaging chemical processes, which are expensive, harmful, and energy-intensive. While a potential solution could involve fermentation processes with enzymes and microorganisms, further research is needed in this area. Additionally, the study provided an initial link towards the use of chitin as biomass in energy storage applications.
Amount: € 10,000
Status: Completed
Feasibility study 2 – FS140 “From crustacean waste to battery electrodes”
Date: 2022
Recycling Ocean Resources successfully obtained funding from the UK Seafood Innovation Fund (SIF). The UK Seafood Innovation Fund supports new ideas to deliver cutting-edge technology and innovation to the UK’s fishing, aquaculture, and seafood industries. SIF supports bold and ambitious tech-driven projects that will enable a step-change in the productivity and sustainability of the UK seafood sector. Administered by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the UK Seafood Innovation Fund supports projects with a long-term vision to improve the UK seafood, fishing, and aquaculture industries.
An initial funding amount of £49,150 was awarded to ROR by SIF to conduct a feasibility study in collaboration with several European and UK-based universities.
Amount: £ 49,150
This three-tiered feasibility study named ‘From crustacean waste to battery electrodes’, was conducted in collaboration with Swansea University, the University of Exeter, TU Eindhoven and ULB Brussels.
Researchers at ULB Brussels focused on the extraction processes of chitin from crab waste, by comparing enzymatic, chemical and microbial techniques in laboratory conditions. It was found that the microbial extraction provided the most beneficial pathway to commercialisation both from economic and environmental perspectives. A techno-economic assessment was provided, offering a cost overview for plants and equipment and financial forecasting plans.
Researchers at Swansea University and TU Eindhoven focused on the conversion of chitin to bio-carbon with the specific aim to integrate the bio-carbon as an alternative to fossil-based electrodes in Vanadium Redox Flow batteries. Laboratory experiments focused on the production of Hydrochar, electromechanical properties, yields and hydrothermal processing using chitin.
The project also focused on researching the attitudes of UK stakeholders in the fishery industry and access to marine waste, with a focus on crab. In collaboration with the University of Exeter, it was concluded that the UK fisheries and crab producers face substantial cost burdens in relation to managing waste and ROR’s project could result in cost savings of more than £2 million for the UK fisheries industry. The South-West and Scotland were identified as two high-potential regions.
Status: Completed
Research & Development – RD148 “From crustacean waste to battery electrodes”
Date: 2022
After successfully completing the FS140 “From crustacean waste to battery electrodes” feasibility study funded by The UK Seafood Innovation Fund. A second funding amount of £186,500 was awarded by The UK Seafood Innovation Fund to continue further research & development of the project.
In ROR’s feasibility study, ULB established that the microbial-enabled chitin production process presents the highest potential to be scaled up for commercial applications based on a detailed benefits and costs study. To translate the microbial-enabled chitin production pathway into a viable business model, further work must be undertaken to improve chitin purity and yield while simultaneously reducing economic and environmental footprints.
Amount: £186,500
Swansea University concluded that the scale-up potential relies on some critical aspects that determine the success of the technology. The core aspect is the ability to conceptualize, design, and build continuous, or semicontinuous, scaled-up manufacturing facility to produce the biobased carbon in large volumes. The main complexity comes from the high-temperature high-pressure hydrothermal step that needs to be carried out in a batch process and implies high energy requirements. Reducing the reaction time on the hydrothermal step and engineering the process for higher energy efficiency and heat recovery is critical to ensure large-scale manufacturing without stifling economic competitiveness.
University of Exeter provided logistical support in the FS140 project management and the provision of contacts with UK stakeholders in the fishery industry. Pursuing this collaboration between the University of Exeter and ROR, will aid to promote collaborative partnerships.
Status: Ongoing