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Economic and ecological evaluation of a biorefinery concept for the production of fucoxanthin and EPA on a pilot scale and transdisciplinary developed scenarios on an industrial scale in Germany
Project
Project code: 2219NR178
Contract period: 01.08.2019
- 30.09.2021
Budget: 263,651 Euro
Purpose of research: Experimental development
Keywords: biorefinery, algae, ressource management, renewable ressources
The aim of the project is the economic and ecological evaluation of a production process of fucoxanthin, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and proteins with the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, including phototrophic cultivation in Flat Panel Airlift (FPA) photobioreactors on a pilot and industrial scale in Germany. The intended evaluation is based on real process data including potential value chains for the use of nutrient-rich residual and recycling streams (N, P, CO2), in particular (surplus) electricity from biogas and photovoltaic plants from the agricultural sector. Based on the results of the microalgae cultivation and the extraction of the high value products from previous projects on a laboratory and pilot scale (extensive experimental data sets will be provided by Fraunhofer IGB and CBP) as well as a literature research, process engineering expertises and proposals, up-scaling scenarios will be developed and evaluated by techno-economic (TEA) and life cycle analyses (LCA) to estimate the economic and ecological sustainability of realistic scenarios. A market analysis is carried out to determine the demand for natural pigments (e.g. astaxanthin and ß-carotene) and microalgae based polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) for nutrition, cosmetics, animal feed or pharmaceutical applications. Subsequently, experts will be interviewed to clarify questions regarding the approval and certification of possible products on the European market. Parallel to the technical analysis the societal acceptability as well as the perspective of relevant stakeholder on the new technical possibilities will be integrated to the research process. The combination of natural and social scientific knowledge with expertise of non-scientific stakeholders is essential for the solution of complex societal challenges. The early integration of stakeholders in the technology assessment and scenario formulation is unique and ensures broad interest inside and outside the scientific community.
Section overview
Subjects
- Biotechnology
- Renewable Resources
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS)
Funding institution
Project management agencies
Associated projects: Biorefinery
- Economic and ecological evaluation of a biorefinery concept for the production of fucoxanthin and EPA on a pilot scale and transdisciplinary developed scenarios on an industrial scale in Germany
- Economic and ecological evaluation of a biorefinery concept for the production of fucoxanthin and EPA on a pilot scale and transdisciplinary developed scenarios on an industrial scale in Germany
