Superior valorisation of bioresources through advanced (bio)chemical eco-technologies

(Smart-Bi)

Nucleu Programme 2019-2022

Project Responsible: PhD. chem. Diana CONSTANTINESCU-ARUXANDEI

Key person: PhD. habil. biochem. Florin OANCEA

Objective:

The general Objective of project SMART-Bi is the development of an integrated platform by which to valorize the agri-food side streams into bioproducts with high added value and high potential for technological transfer.  

Project SMART-Bi addresses the following themes established as specific objectives within the general objective:

  • Development of myco-technologies for feather and whey processing;
  • Valorization of agro-industrial liquid side-streams by controlled microalgal photosynthesis;
  • Integration of the bionanotechnological platform of innovative conversions of the selected agri-food side-streams;
  • The quality assurance of the bio(nano)products obtained within the platform by new methods of advanced characterization.

The project consists of 4 main phases organized based on a general scheme: Elaboration of experimental models and procedures (2019), Realization of the experimental models and procedures (2020), Optimization of the experimental models and procedures (2021), Demonstration of the functionality

of the experimental models and procedures (2022).

Results:

  • 4 Technologies with demonstrated functionalities (133%): (1) Mycotechnology for feather valorization;  (2) Mycotechnology for whey valorization; (3) Technology of valorization of agro-industrial liquid side-streams by controlled microalgal photosynthesis; (4) Technology for the integration of the bionanotechnological platform;
  • 10 Methods/Methodologies with demonstrated functionality (300%): (1) Methodologyfor fungal strain selection; (2) Methodology for microalgal strain selection; (3) high-throughput screening method and semi-quantitative analysis for protease activity, (4) MTT method for Mung seedlings, (5) quantification method for proton pump, (6) NBT quantification method by image analysis; (7-9) three methods for selenium and silicon analysis by ICP-OES; (10) analytical method with the CHNOS FlashSmart equipment for total nitrogen determination from organic and organo-mineral fertilizers;
  • 5 Procedures with demonstrated functionality (167%): (1) Procedure for biostimulant treatment applied to plants; (2) Procedure for whey valorization with Nannochloris sp.; (3) Procedure for cascade extraction of proteins, polyphenols, lignin, cellulose, silicon; (4) Procedure of stable suspension synthesis of selenium nanoparticles; (5) Procedure for development of analysis methods of Se and Si total content of the obtained bioproducts;
  • 6 Formulations / Compositions with demonstrated functionality (150%): (1) Formulation of foliar fertilizer, (2) Formulation based on synergic plant biostimulant; (3-4) two Compositions based on honey and respectively spent brewer’s yeast cell walls, (5) Film Formulation based on alginate and silicon; (6) Hydrogel formulation based on chitosan and bioactive compounds from spent Pleurotus substrate;
  • 26 Papers sent  for publication/ in evaluation/ published in scientific journals, mostly WoS indexed, Q1 and Q2 (144%), 2papers in preparation;
  • 40 Scientific communications (250%);
  • 6 OSIM patent applications (120%);
  • Valorization of the obtained results for technological transfer within some national projects (1 POR project and 2 PTE projects)

Technology I

Title:

Laboratory mycotechnology for keratinous sub-product valorization into high added value bioproducts with biostimulant activity

Application domain:

Agro-industrial biotechnologies

General presentation:

TRL 4 Technology  which includes valorization of keratinous waste (feather) as growth substrate for fungal strains benefic to plants, to obtain plant biostimulants based on protein hydrolysates.

Technology II

Title:

Laboratory mycotechnology for valorization of sub-products from milk industry (whey) to produce enzymes and other proteins

Application domain:

agro-industrial biotechnologies, biorefineries, circular bioeconomy

General presentation:

TRL 4 Technology which implies valorization of whey as ingredient in the growth media for fungal strains benefic to plants, with the aim of inducing hydrolytic enzymes and other proteins which act on the lignocellulosic matrix. The culture media can be used for extractions, cell lysis, and/or plant biostimulants.

Technology III

Title:

Technology of valorization of agro-industrial liquid side-streams by controlled microalgal photosynthesis

Application domain:

Wastewater treatment

General presentation:

TRL 4 Technology which treats the residual streams from the milk industry by mixotroph cultivation of microalgal strains, using whey as organic carbon source. The cultivation is performed in a tubular photobioreactor with adjustable illumination source, thermostat and gas bubbling.

Technology IV

Title:

Technology for the integration of the bionanotechnological platform of innovative conversion of selected agri-food side streams 

Application domain:

Biorefinery, circular bioeconomy 

General presentation:

TRL 4 Technology which integrates the developed bionanotechnological platform within the project by obtaining and using active enzymes and other proteins, polyphenols, chitin, cellulose, biogenic Si nanoparticles etc. from the co-products and sub-products of mushroom cultivation, milk industry and aquatic biomass. The Technology integrates procedures for cascade conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into functional foods and bioproducts.