Technologies

PHAs – the bioplastic of the future

The only completely bio-based method to extract PHA
As PHAs are biosynthesized and stored by bacteria inside their cells, efficient extraction methods are required for the upscaling of PHAs production to qualities suitable for industrial use. Bioextrax has developed and patented a method to carry out the extraction biologically. The unique features of Bioextrax’ technology are;

  • it is completely bio-based, free of chemicals and solvents,
  • it is universal, can work with all PHA producing bacteria and with all PHA types,
  • it produces intact PHA granules,
  • it leaves a nutrient-rich solubilized non-PHA bacterial biomass as a co-product (20-50 weight % of cell biomass), and
  • it enables significant cost reduction compared to other PHA-producing methods.

Bioextrax’ technology can reduce the production costs significantly while producing a higher quality product in a more environmentally friendly way.

A patent-granted method to convert sucrose into PHA
It has long been known that several bacteria can convert sucrose from sugar beets or sugar canes into PHAs. While these technologies have been shown to work well, the challenge has been the cost, mainly due to the relative high price of the raw material.

Bioextrax has developed a unique and GMO-free process which increases the conversion rate between sucrose and PHA, allowing for a significantly lower production cost for PHA.

If you generate large volumes of sucrose and have an interest in improving your bottom line while contributing to a more sustainable economy, get in touch to learn more about our solution.

Increased awareness for protein consumption, a growing demand for healthy and safe animal feed, antibiotics ban and animal welfare, have increased the demand for alternative protein ingredients in animal feed.  We are currently evaluating this material as a sustainable protein source alternative, applicable in, e.g. feed, food and in other applications.

If you are a food or feed producer looking for a more environmentally friendly protein source, reach out to discuss collaboration opportunities We are also interested in exploring new applications like cosmetics, personal care and body building/fitness applications.

Are you up for the challenge, using a sustainable protein source alternative?

A unique feature of our PHA extraction method is that we obtain a co-product in the form of hydrolyzed bacterial cell walls, so called hydrolyzed single cell protein. This co-product is a highly digestible, nutritional, and amino acid-rich soluble hydrolysate.

Converting poultry feathers into protein hydrolysates

The world is in desperate need of more sustainable protein sources
Proteins are essential for human diets and the global food production system. Global demand for protein ingredients in feed, food and pet food is rising rapidly and sustainable alternatives are scarce. Fish meal is facing a crisis due to depleted fish stocks and soy cultivation is associated with soil erosion, deforestation, and environmental contamination due to toxic chemicals used in the process.

Millions of tons of high-quality proteins are being thrown away every year
Considering the well-known sustainability issues confronting the traditional protein industry, it is maybe surprising to learn that the 5 million tons of feather that is being wasted each year, consists of more than 90% protein. Different methods for turning the feathers into protein hydrolysates exist, but they produce a smelly product with a ruined amino acid profile and low digestibility.

A 100% bio-based and cost-effective method to convert feathers into feed or food
Using non-GMO bacteria, Bioextrax technology allows the conversion of raw poultry feathers (chicken and turkey) into a protein hydrolysate. The process is 100% chemical free and highly digestible (99.7%) protein ingredient suitable as feed or pet food, or for human consumption.

Reach out if you have an interest in future collaborations.

Extracting keratin microfibres from poultry feathers

Turning waste into value

Globally, the poultry industry produces roughly 5 million tons of feather waste each year. Most is not utilized and much of it goes to landfills or is incinerated. The slaughterhouses normally pay for the service of getting rid of the feathers. Thermo-chemical methods for turning the feathers into useful materials are being investigated and tried in different scales. However, these methods harshly affect the keratin fibres’ structure and/or amino acids profile in the product. Moreover, these methods are not sustainable solutions as they require intensive energy and chemical uses.

A new unique material
Bioextrax has developed a patent-pending and bio-based method to turn poultry feathers into keratin microfibres with intact fibre structures. The first-of-its-kind keratin fibres have a foam-cylindric structure which means low density and good insulation properties for a variety of applications. The fibre’s small size (30-200 microns) means a lot of surface area. The material has high thermo-stability, good barrier properties, is water insoluble, bio-based, and bio-degradable.

Keratin fibres has high potential for a wide variety of applications, such as in material composites, electric circuit boards, insulations, membranes & filtration, packaging, plastic fillers, textiles, etc.

We are continuously evaluating this new material and are open to collaborations.