Proof of principle fly larvae biorefinery for biopolymer plastic production

Introduction

Management of food waste (FW) and petroleum plastics pollution are two significant global challenges. Developing biopolymers and added-value bioplastic products from low-grade FW is, thus, a key enabler to tackle both issues. Despite extensive R&D efforts to valorise waste streams including FW to bioplastics, the widespread market penetration of bioplastics is hindered due to their high production cost.

Project Overview

BioLaMer aims to demonstrate a novel proof of principle fly larvae biorefinery by establishing food-eating black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) as a high-impact feedstock for cost-effective production of two biopolymers, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and chitosan.

Advantages of the Larvae Route

The advantages of the larvae route are that it:

1. Is renewable and inexpensive.
2. Provides less complexity as the larvae has invariable chemical composition.
3. Can be used to mitigate the FW problem.
4. Can reduce raw material inputs, thus minimizing energy utilization.
5. Doesn't disturb the biodiversity.
6. Can avoid/reduce pre-treatment costs associated with the waste streams to produce the platform chemicals for biopolymer production.

Innovation and Efficiency

The innovative BioLaMer biorefinery will improve the bioreactor process efficiency and cut down the PHA production cost significantly compared to existing technologies. BioLaMer will combine its conceptual innovations, complementary interdisciplinary expertise, and bioreactor process expertise to develop cost-effective PHA and chitosan production technologies.

Support and Impact

This development will be supported by life cycle thinking/analysis and hybrid models developed using a machine learning platform. Further, the significant environmental, economic, and societal impacts (that support the EU Circular Economy, Green Deal, Food Waste, and Plastic strategies/initiatives) of BioLaMer will be demonstrated through the involvement of SSH, communication, and circularity demonstration partners.