Anagrafe della ricerca

EXPRESS - EXploring fish waste Potential for the integrated generation of RESourceS

Durata:
28/09/2023 - 27/09/2025
Responsabile scientifico:
Tipo di progetto:
Ricerca Nazionale - PRIN
Ente finanziatore:
MINISTERO (MINISTERO DELL'UNIVERSITA' E RICERCA)
Codice identificativo progetto:
20222XR2FR
Ruolo PoliTo:
Coordinatore

Abstract

EXPRESS will develop an integrated biorefinery to recover high-value compounds and hydrogen from fishery wastes and bioproducts, which are a potential source of hydrolysed proteins, fatty acids, enzymes. FAO estimates about 180 M tonnes of live weight from catch and aquaculture, with 25% to 70% of by-products such as viscera, heads, scales, bones and shells. A Biorefinery shifts the paradigm from fossil to renewable biological sources; the EXPRESS project adds the further challenge of using low temperature and fully electrified processes, combining biological processes such as fermentation, photofermentation, anaerobic digestion, and bioelectrochemical processes in an integrated approach. EXPRESS project aims to obtain energy from secondary raw materials, within the frame of a circular economy model, transforming wastes and by-products into added-value products. In the biorefinery scheme of EXPRESS, soft parts, such as fish viscera and filleting residues, as well as the organic fraction of mollusc wastes will be processed by (photo)fermentation approaches and enzymatic hydrolysis to obtain protein hydrolysates, bioactive peptides, omega-3 rich oils and medium chain fatty acids. The effluent will be sent to a separation section or to other processes to l produce hydrogen and poly ß-hydroxybutyrate. The separation section of EXPRESS will exploit low-temperature processes to purify streams from the upstream processes. Dialysis and electrodialysis will be also considered. The lean streams of the biorefinery will be processed in the energy carrier generation section, where fermentation will be combined with microbial electrolysis to obtain hydrogen. A final process of anaerobic digestion will exploit the remaining energy content of the biorefinery residues. Finally, an alternative biological photofermentation approach will be developed for biogas upgrading by H2S removal and CO2 exploitation by autotrophic metabolism. There are research initiatives for the recovery of chemicals from fish by-products, but no commercial facilities are in operation, and the research mainly targets single products with single processes. Conversely EXPRESS proposes a novel approach of integrated marine biorefinery with low-temperature processes, fully powered with electricity. Therefore, EXPRESS fulfils the requirements of the main EU and national strategies, such as Hydrogen, Bioeconomy and blue growth strategies, and the Circular Economy Action Plan.

Strutture coinvolte

Parole chiave

Settori ERC

PE8_2 - Chemical engineering, technical chemistry

Obiettivi di Sviluppo Sostenibile (Sustainable Development Goals)

Obiettivo 7. Assicurare a tutti l’accesso a sistemi di energia economici, affidabili, sostenibili e moderni|Obiettivo 14. Conservare e utilizzare in modo durevole gli oceani, i mari e le risorse marine per uno sviluppo sostenibile

Budget

Costo totale progetto: € 242.010,00
Contributo totale progetto: € 197.497,00
Costo totale PoliTo: € 58.559,00
Contributo PoliTo: € 47.788,00