The use of seaweed spent biomass to catalyse Industrial up-scaling of PHA and PGGA, a circular biorefinery approach.

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FlexSea has teamed up with the UK Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) to optimise and up-scale the biosynthesis of two innovative biomaterials. Poly-gamma glutamic acid and Poly(hydroxyalkanoates) are two classes of biologically derived biopolymers that could significantly displace synthetic alternatives. With FlexSea striving to meet the demand for home compostable, bio-based alternative products to conventional plastics, this project aims to tackle this significant industrial challenge.Thanks to FlexSea's innovative fermentation technology we can now use spent algal fractions (by-product of FlexSea's transparent film casting technology - uses 20\_40% of the seaweed fraction) to synthesise these materials reproducibly. During the project we aim to further optimise the yields and characteristics of the biopolymers as well as liaise with industrial partners to assess their properties for a number of applications.During the project the biosynthesis of these materials will be up-scaled from 250 mL to 4-L to 1500L.By the end of the 20-month project FlexSea aims to patent the technology and employ the material synthesised to undertake commercial pilots with several industry partners.In addition, the consortium will deliver a full technoeconomic and life-cycle assessment for further commercialization of the technology. By producing three single use plastic- alternatives (hydrocolloid films; PHAs, PGGA) in a biorefinery approach, we aim to scale and commercialise the sustainable (no waste) and economic advantage (reduced raw material costs; additional revenue stream) of using seaweed as a sustainable bio-based feedstock.