Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

As designed for, pulp and paper technologies can efficiently remove water from diverse biomass for further processing. Unusual applications of these technologies in microalgae biomass production will contribute to increase the cost effectiveness of the harvesting and dewatering step in the process. Jungbunzlauer is an important bioingredient producer for food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and chemical markets. To reduce their effluents cost management, Jungbunzlauer would like to convert it into valuable products. As their effluents are free of toxic contaminants, microalgae biomass production for the aquafeed market is targeted. Microalgae cells can contain essential nutrients for fish and crustacean growth such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, astaxanthin, amino acids and vitamins. Moreover, microalgae are known for their ability to treat wastewater throught nutrients assimilation for their growth. Innofibre have worked over the last 5 years on pulp and paper technologies applications to microalgae biomass harvesting and processing. To evaluate the potential of the Jungbunzlauer effluents, Innofibre propose to test the production of two strains cultivated in these effluents and to use pulp and paper technologies to iniate the harvesting/conditioning biomass process development for aquafeeding.