Biorefinary for conversion of agroindustry waste to sustainable biomaterials

The current proposal details a framework for building synergies between work on economically viable platform technologies for AIW valorisation, while considering socio-economic and environmental factors such as material extraction or acquisition, manufacture, use, and end-of-life. Leveraging AIW, as an otherwise considered waste resource, the proposal will apply the concept of carbon-capture and conversion (C3) of AIW organic biomass (e.g., lignin, cellulose) through biological fermentation processes into next-generation bio-based platform chemicals to produce bio-based plastic for reintegration as biodegradable plastic packaging within the food supply chain. The conversion of AIW into biodegradable plastics represents a synergistic and sustainable solution to the accumulation of both biomass and plastic as byproducts of the food supply chain.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)