Project Page Views: [ 695 ]
| Project Metadata Element | Details |
| Project Title | Biopolymer production from Irish Dairy Industry Wastewaters |
| Research Area | Water |
| Project Acronym | |
| Principal Investigator or Lead Irish Partner | Niall O' Leary |
| Lead Institution or Organisation | University College Cork (UCC) |
| Lead Country | Ireland |
| Latitude, Longitude (of Lead Institution) | 51.89348, -8.49206 |
| Lead Funding Entity | Environmental Protection Agency |
| Approximate Project Start Date | 01/06/2009 |
| Approximate Project Finishing Date | 01/12/2011 |
| Project Website (if any) | |
| Links to other Web-based resources | |
| Project Keywords | Dairy Industry; Wastewater treatment; Biodegradable; Biofuel |
| Project Abstract | The project aims to investigate the biotechnological potential for conversion of dairy food industry wastewater into poly-hydroxyalkanoates, (PHAs), in a mixed microbial reactor system. PHAs are bacterial polyesters which display thermoplastic properties making them suitable for the replacement of traditional plastics. However, these compounds also demonstrate complete biodegradability upon disposal in the environment, offering sustainable alternatives to petrochemical plastics. Industrial PHA production to date has focussed on pure culture fermentations requiring costly, refined substrates such that many PHA end products are not commercially competitive with existing plastics. Open, mixed culture systems offer a cost efficient alternative approach to PHA synthesis, and the potential use of domestic, commercial or industrial waste streams enhances this opportunity. Previous work by the applicants combined PHA accumulation with inorganic nutrient remediation from simulated dairy processing wastewater in one such sequencing batch reactor system. We currently seek to expand the work through the application of dynamic feeding strategies to optimise PHA output and in addition to assess the potential biofuel capabilities of the polyesters generated. Comprehensive life cycle analyses using allocations of net energy balance, GHG emission offsets and economic drivers will also be carried out to assess the longer term viability of such an approach. The applicants expect that 2-3 high quality peer review, international journal publications will be generated by this work as the technology proposed represents a forefront research application in the area of sustainable waste management. Reporting through the Funding agency will also facilitate a raised awareness among policy makers of the opportunites for reclassification of waste streams as potential feedstocks for the production of eco-friendly materials, and carbon recycling. Finally the outputs of this study will offer forward thinking, sustainable solutions/capacities to better manage the increased dairy activity anticipated post abolition of the EU milk quotas in 2015. |