National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry
ICECHIM
1950-2020: 70 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS RESEARCH IN CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AT ICECHIM
BIOTECHNOLOGIES, BIORESOURCES AND BIOPRODUCTS FOR BIOECONOMY
The area of Bioeconomy has as objective the development of new bio(nano)technologies and bio(nano)products for the capitalization of bioresources and the sustainable intensification of their production
The area of Bioeconomy has as objective the development of new bio(nano)technologies and bio(nano)products for the capitalization of bioresources and the sustainable intensification of their production. Applied and fundamental-oriented research contributes to the development of knowledge in the field and to increasing the visibility of the institute, substantiates the technological transfer and open innovation and provides the necessary framework for the training of new researchers. The field is structured on the following transdisciplinary directions:
- Biorefining of biomass, with the production of chemical intermediates, biogas and biofuels;
- Technologies for the production of alternative bioresources and the sustainable fixation of carbon dioxide, including by mixotrophic cultivation of microalgae;
- Obtaining biofuels from various biomass sources (biodiesel from microalgal oil and vegetable oil, aviation biofuel from microalgal oil);
- Technology to increase the energy efficiency of biogas plants by integrating a microalgae cultivation system and capitalizing on lateral flows for biofuel production;
- Technologies for obtaining fuel additives, bitumen additives by capitalizing on the secondary flows resulting from the biodiesel production process;
- Technology for obtaining ecological solvents from waste oils;
- Closing value chains in the bioeconomy by using nano-bio-technological and (bio) chemical processes to transform agro-industrial by-products into bioproducts required by the market;
- Production of bio (nano) products, bio (nano) fertilizers, plant biostimulants, bio (nano) plant protection products, intended to intensify agricultural and horticultural production in the context of climate change;
- Technologies for the production of nutritional supplements and food additives with amplified bioactivity through synergistic interactions and increased bioavailability;
- Development of biotechnologies for environmental protection and remediation (biodegradation of organic and inorganic pollutants);
- New sources of enzymes and additives produced by agri-food biotechnologies and industrial biotechnologies;
- Bioanalysis and development of (bio) sensors to determine food quality and environment;
- Use of polymeric materials for agriculture and food industry (biomimetic sensors, selective absorbers, etc.);
- Obtaining hybrid natural-synthetic polymeric materials for different applications (hybrid hydrogels, bio-sourced polymers, biomaterials, etc.);
- Advanced processing of plant resources.
International projects
Transdisciplinary approach for development of technological solutions for target compounds recovery from agro side-streams
Biowaste valorisation is an attractive approach in the framework of the EU Waste Management policies and the development of a circular economy.
National projects
Comprehensive approach to support precision agriculture and environmental management through satellite technologies and classic methods of investigation
The overall objective of the project is to develop and implement an alert system for precision agriculture and environmental management by identifying air pollution events and extreme weather events.
Biogenic nano-system for targeted delivery of bioactive ingredients on dysbiosis biofilm involved in gingivitis and periodontitis – BioNanoGum
Biogenic nano-system for targeted delivery of bioactive ingredients on dysbiosis biofilm involved in gingivitis and periodontitis
New materials based on polylactic acid with controlled flexibility – FLEX4PLA
FLEX4PLA project aims the research and design of new biomaterials in which both polymers and additives are being derived from renewable resources.
Energetic efficiency biogas plants improvement by integrated system: biogas-microalgae-biofuels in frame of biorefinery concept (AlgalBiogasConceptEnergy)
Development and demonstration of innovative technologies to optimize the biogas plants by integrating the open ponds for microalgae cultivation using the digestate resulted from anaerobic digestion as a culture medium
Value added products from microalgae biomass applying biorefinery concepts
By adopting the concept “zero waste, the project aims to convert the exhausted biomass from active principles into biocarbons with adsorbent properties, which will be tested for the retention of inorganic compounds
Complete Recovery of Fish and Oilseed Wastes Extracts/Hydrolysates in Microcapsules Usable as Fertilizers or Nutraceuticals
“NutraFert” – The complete recovery of wastes of fish and oilseed as extracts and hydrolysates for microencapsulation, the final product being used as fertilizer or nutraceuticals
BioConstrMater
Biotechnological strategies for innovative construction materials incorporating bacterial bioproduct
Increasing the institutional capacity of bioeconomic research for the innovative exploitation of the local vegetal resources, in order to obtain horticultural products with high added value
The project will provide the necessary support for the creation and development of a complementary research chain in the bio-economy, which aims to achieve a high level of international recognition.
Innovative technologies for advanced processing of plant resources from fruit and viticulture
The concern for the approached issue is a consequence of the requests coming from some fruit and wine companies and farms to be able to capitalize on their agricultural production in a superior way.