FLEXIZYME

Construction of a FLEXIble and adaptable enZYMatic biotechnological platform for sustainablE industrial production of bio-based fatty amines from side stream materials

Project details

Type of project: Research & Innovation Action
Project focus: Bio-based chemicals
Feedstock origin: Sidestreams from industry
Feedstock type: Food industry sidestreams

Project period: 1 June 2024 - 31 May 2028
Status: Completed
CBE JU Contribution: € 4 984 163,75
Call identifier: HORIZON-JU-CBE-2023

Summary

With a projected market growth of over €5.54 billion by 2027, fatty amines are essential components in numerous industries, including cosmetic products, detergents, and agriculture. However, traditional methods of fatty amines production suffer from drawbacks, such as high energy consumption, toxic catalysts, and environmental concerns.

FLEXIZYME aims to revolutionise fatty amines production through biotechnological innovation and sustainable practices by pioneering a biotechnological platform that utilises fat- and protein-rich residues as feedstocks. This approach not only mitigates environmental impact, but it also contributes to a circular economy by repurposing waste materials.

One of the key solutions proposed by FLEXIZYME is the use of advanced enzymes, leveraging cutting-edge bioinformatic tools and artificial intelligence to optimise processes. This approach offers advantages over traditional methods, such as higher selectivity, milder reaction conditions, and reduced energy consumption, and it also enables enzymes to be derived from renewable sources and tailored for specific reactions, thereby enhancing overall efficiency and sustainability.

FLEXIZYME integrates the chemo/enzymatic approach, enzyme engineering, and machine learning into a biotechnological fatty amines platform, ensuring productivity, robustness, and environmental performance. Through stakeholder collaboration and assessment adherence, the project aims to:

Advance environmentally friendly biotechnological processes by using sustainable by-products in a circular way to offer a flexible, cost-efficient solution that fosters sustainability across industries.
Develop a flexible and adaptable biotechnological platform, addressing current limitations in industrial biotechnology through a holistic approach, integrating cutting-edge technologies and interdisciplinary innovation to optimise biocatalyst engineering, reactor design, and process optimisation.
Develop biotechnological processes with improved efficiency and scalability for FA synthesis.
Enhance cost-effectiveness and engineer enzymes to overcome limitations in industrial biotechnological processes.
Develop an integrated process design and real-time monitoring system for the enzymatic synthesis of fatty amines.
Address technical challenges in scaling up and validating biotechnological processes under real product/process conditions.
Validate the biotechnological platform at an industrial scale in the cosmetic, detergent, and agricultural sectors through case studies and industrial implementation.
Conduct techno-economic assessment and life cycle assessment to evaluate the economic and environmental performance of the overall process.
Foster interdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge sharing, and dissemination of project outcomes to drive innovation and industrial implementation in the biotechnological sector through workshops, reports, training, networking, and publications.

FLEXIZYME will develop innovative reactor systems and scale-up strategies, ensuring commercial viability and sustainability by:

Driving innovation and revolutionising the production of bio-based fatty amines by advancing scientific knowledge in the enzymatic field, in particular on the integration of enzymatic screening and development with artificial intelligence.
Increasing the competitiveness of chemical industries through the development of more sustainable bio-based fatty amines products.
Making available a broader range of bio-based products meeting market requirements.
Fostering collaboration and networking among researchers, which will facilitate knowledge exchange and interdisciplinary research.
Promoting more sustainable production practices leading to lower environmental impacts.
Boosting job creation and economic opportunities linked to the production of enzymes, platform commercialisation and bio-based formulations.
Informing the policy development and evidence-based decision-making processes.