PUFACHAIN

The Value Chain from Microalgae to PUFA

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The overall goal of the project is to develop a robust scientific and technological basis for substan-tiating strategic and technical decisions for the industrial development of high-value products from algae. This shall contribute to develop this new and sustainable resource for market. The concept of the proposal is strictly oriented to the value chain of microalgae. Starting at the very end of the value chain the proposal picks up a concrete application of high market relevance. The main tar-geted application is the use of high purified omega 3 fatty acids (DHA/EPA) as building blocks in modern oleo chemistry to gain high value products for nutrition and pharmaceutical applications. These applications will define specifications that propagate backwards along the various value-adding stages of the value chain. These stages include biology, cultivation technology and down-stream technology. So the aim of this project is to realize a concrete exemplary value chain, de-velop the technical interfaces between the different value adding stages and investigate the still open research aspects on every single stage while addressing the needs of the value chain as a whole. Finally, an integrated processing, combining all technical steps, will be implemented for demonstration. A comprehensive and holistic sustainability approach will complement the scientific and commercial advances on each value-adding stage.

A consortium with 6 companies and 3 research institutes will integrate state of the art science and technologies in order to assemble a complete process from feedstock production and harvesting to oil extraction and purification. Innovative technologies will be combined taking advantage of a complimentary partnership with the best available expertise in the sector in Europe. These pro-cesses will be evaluated for their sustainability and scaled-up from lab to demonstrative prototype level.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An EU consortium comprising companies and research institutes is developing an innovative process for extracting high-value products from microalgae. Its scope extends from feedstock production and harvesting to oil extraction and purification.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The aim of the project http://www.pufachain.eu/home/ (PUFACHAIN) (The value chain from microalgae to PUFA) is to develop a sound scientific and technological basis for the industrial development of high-value products from microalgae. These processes will be evaluated for their sustainability and scaled up from lab to demonstrative prototype level.

Omega-3 fatty acids (i.e. polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)), in particular docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), are important for maintaining human health. They play beneficial roles in the prevention and/or treatment of coronary heart diseases, cancer and diabetes, or occupy a structural role in the nervous tissues of the brain and retina.

Project partners will use highly purified omega-3 fatty acids (DHA/EPA) as building blocks to develop high-value products for nutritional and pharmaceutical applications. They will define specifications along the various value adding stages of the value chain, which include biology, cultivation technology and downstream technology.

Researchers are developing the process for preparation of highly purified algal oils, together with the exploitation of side products and residues. Accompanying high-value substances may include colourant antioxidants, proteins, and enzymes for pharmaceuticals and polysaccharides.

For downstream processing, three stages will be adapted to obtain highly purified omega-3 fatty acids under optimal conditions. The stages are cell disruption, crude oil extraction and separation of defined molecular classes.

Scientists will also develop integrated membrane filtration for microalgae harvesting. The polyethersulfone membrane will remove bacteria and cell fragments for efficient water recycling and reuse of the nutrients. A demonstration plant will be built that will combine all the necessary steps and prove the technology's viability.

PUFACHAIN is using a comprehensive and holistic approach to address the environmental, economic and social aspects of the project. This will complement the scientific and commercial advances made at each value adding stage and ensure sustainability.