The work performed so far constitutes the basis for the second part of the project where economic and environmental impacts will be evaluated.
The most important contributions are summarized as follow:
1. A detailed and in-depth analysis of the Pros and Cons of a range of biomass and biowastes to be used as potential Feedstocks in Biorefineries.
IProPBio beneficiaries come from countries with rich native flora, and the analyses identified biomass and biowastes that can be used as feedstocks in biorefiniries that will produce alternative, cleaner sources of energy and high-added value products for health, wellbeing and welfare use; compounds, which can be used to prevent, reduce and/or help in the treatment of socially significant diseases by generation of knowledge and know-how for their future manufacturing, commercialization and marketing.
2. Advancements in the definition of alternative extraction methods for natural compounds. In particular the possibility of using extraction with supercritical and/or subcritical fluids as a green alternative to organic solvents extraction processes
A one feedstock-multiproduct biorefinery is based on implementing predominantly mild, advanced processes and techniques; Techniques that will allow obtaining from the feedstocks high value added products with a wide spectrum of applications without damaging one or more of the extracts, particularly those that are heat sensitive.
3. Designing new, and extending existing methods for phase equilibria calculations, and optimization of the extraction parameters.
Modelling the phase equilibria of the complex highly non-ideal systems that represent the biomass/biowaste at normal and supercritical conditions, play a pivotal role in the process of design and optimization of process flowsheets.
4. New correlations for the estimation of a selected set of properties of fatty acids derived from biomasses
5. The secondees adopted new methods and techniques not available in their countries, and hence brought back to their host Institutions new expertise and extremely valuable scientific experience.
6. The results obtained were disseminated to the academic community via a number of articles published in prestigious international journals with IF and/or SJR. In addition The First Workshop: Valuable products from residual biomasses Towards a greener society (ProGreS): Biomass selection, characterization and valorization, which took place at the Institute of Chemical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences from September 22nd till September 24th. The Workshop was attended by over 30 participants from 10 countries including many ESR. The IProPBio beneficiaries presented as oral and poster communications the results achieved during the first year and a half of the IProPBio project.
