research

Research (2017-2023)

Research Programmes

What Research is BiOrbic Doing?

Below you can read about some of the projects we completed in phase one of BiOrbic. At that time we were structured under three platforms

Research (2017 – 2023)

Selective Separation

Extracting valuable molecules from biomass.

projects

Development of novel biopolymer membrane systems for separation of proteins and peptides

Development of novel polymer membranes via phase inversion on a purpose-built casting rig. Preparation of novel hybrid materials such as chitosan-PMMA composites etc. Functionalisation of polymer membranes with silanes and potentially chiral moieties such as biomolecules. This is to allow phase separation by chemical affinity as well as size. Optimisation of pore structure and size for specific biomolecule filtration. Improvement of tensile strength and rigidity under filtration conditions.

Primary Investigator

Prof Yurii Gun’ko (TCD)

Staff

Postdoctorate Researchers: Dr Tandra Ghoshal 0.5 FTE (June 2018 – December 2020) Postgraduate Researchers: Nadezda Prochukhan (from September 2019)

Electrospun membranes

The main goal of this project is to develop new membranes which are based on 2D nanomaterials for nanofiltration (NF) and the upgrading of gasification products. The technical objectives include: Preparation and testing of membranes based on oxidised BN (BNOx). Preparation and testing of BNOx – LDH (layered double hydroxide) based hybrid membranes. Preparation and testing of BN-Fe3O4 based hybrid membranes.

Primary Investigator

Prof Yurii Gun’ko (TCD, Project Lead)

Staff

Postdoctorate Researchers: Dr Sarah McCarthy (Q4 2017 only) Dr Finn Purcell-Milton (from 2018) Postgraduate Researchers: Natalia Garcia Domenech (October 2017 – December 2021)

Frontier technology for biomass pre-treatment to increase substrate availability for bioconversion processes

The main goal of the project is to assess the potential for individual or sequential pre-treatments combinations of high voltage pulse electric fields to induce cell/biosolid lysis leading to an enhanced substrate for bioconversion. The work has been divided in five different work tasks (WT): WT1. Literature review, method development, and design future experiments; WT2. Screening of substrates in terms of suitability for biogas production.; WT3. Assessment of physically disruptive pre-treatments for the substrates chosen for further study in terms of biogas production; WT4. Short circuiting the anaerobic digestion pathways to produce medium chain fatty acids (a new WT in addition to what was included in the original proposal)WT5. Cost benefit analysis of pre-treatments for production of biogas and other products.

Staff

Postdoctorate Researchers: Dr Ajay Menon (from April 2019)

Novel membrane fabrication for the upgrading of gasification products

The main goal of this project is to develop new membranes which are based on 2D nanomaterials for nanofiltration (NF) and the upgrading of gasification products. The technical objectives include: Preparation and testing of membranes based on oxidised BN (BNOx). Preparation and testing of BNOx – LDH (layered double hydroxide) based hybrid membranes. Preparation and testing of BN-Fe3O4 based hybrid membranes.

Primary Investigator

Prof Yurii Gun’ko (TCD, Project Lead)

Staff

Postdoctorate Researchers: Dr Sarah McCarthy (Q4 2017 only) Dr Finn Purcell-Milton (from 2018) Postgraduate Researchers: Natalia Garcia Domenech (October 2017 – December 2021)

Process development of integrated separation and conversion processes involving gaseous substrates

Biotechnological conversion processes involving gases (derived from residues) are often limited by challenges such as (i) poor mass transfer characteristics (rate-limiting) particularly due to low solubility of relevant gases (ii) safety issues with certain gases (iii) presence of impurities in the gas streams (iv) a limited understanding of the design and scale-up of gas-based systems. This project aims to overcome these obstacles with new bioreactor designs involving membranes and to undertake scale-up and techno-economic analysis of these novel process.

Primary Investigator

Prof Eoin Casey (UCD) Prof Patrick Guiry (UCD) Prof Yuriii Gun’ko (TCD)

Staff

Postdoctorate Researchers: Dr Sorcha Daly (UCD) Postgraduate Researchers: Tomislav Horvat (UCD) Burcu Akkoyunlu (UCD)

Research (2017 – 2023)

Conversion

Converting molecules into new products.

projects

Bio-based and compostable polymer composites

The main objective of the projects are i) Development of bio-based polymer blends and charcaterisation; ii) Production of polymer nanocomposites based on bio-based polymers; iii) Scaling up of optimised bio-based bio-based polymer composites and extrusion of prototype films and iv) evaluation of compostability of bio-based composites.

Staff

Postdoctorate Researchers: Dr Shaiju Parameswaran (10/07/2018 – 09/07/2019) Dr Rituparna Duarah (from February 2020)

Biological conversion (systems and synthetic biology)

The overall goal of this project is to establish a versatile Synthetic/Systems Biology and Omics resource within the Conversion platform that can be applied to research questions relevant to the bioeconomy. The programme is centred on solving two significant global bioconversion challenges: creating synthetic pathways in microorganisms to make complex products (polymers) as well as the use of gaseous substrates to make chemicals. The focus was renewed in 2021 to include projects targeting CO 2 utilization.

Primary Investigator

Prof Kevin O’Connor (UCD) Prof Eoin Casey (UCD)

Staff

Postdoctorate Researchers: Dr Tanja Narancic Postgraduate Researchers: Nadia Lamari (January 2018 – July 2020) Michelle Rich (January 2019) Federico Cerrone (from October 2017) Si Liu (from 2021)

Carbon dioxide as feedstock

The use of CO2 as a raw material in molecular science has been the subject of many investigations. The aim of the project is to explore feasibility of partially replacing the non-sustainable feedstock with renewable and widely available ones to contribute to transition to a circular economy. This project will investigate valorisation of CO2 as feedstock using synthetic transformation chemistry as well as biological approaches. The project team will work closely with separation specialists in the Selective Separation Research Platform (researchers from Prof Eoin Casey’s and Prof Yurii Gunko’s group) and well as biotechnology experts in Prof Kevin O’Connor’s group in the Selective Separation Research Platform. Life cycle analysis will be built in from the start by the project team working closely with Prof Nick Holden’s group in the Sustainability Research Platform. In addition to researchers directly focused on project 2.5, the new CO2 focus area brings together researchers engaged in other centre projects who have CO2 focus. Namely, the work of Project 2.1 PhD Kate McKeever and CDT PhD students Manuel Bruch (from September 2020), Jia-Lynn Tham (from October 2020) will come under the umbrella of CO2 focus area.

Primary Investigator

Prof Patrick Guiry (UCD) Prof Gerard Cagney (UCD)

Staff

Postdoctorate Researchers: Dr Muniraj Nachimuthu (UCD) Postgraduate Researchers: Kate McKeever (UCD) Manuel Bruch (UCD) Jia-Lynn Tham (UCD)

Chemical conversion / applications of lactose

Objective 1: Synthesis of a library of lactose-derived chiral N,N and N,N,N chiral ligands to investigate their ability to induce levels of enantioselectivity in metal-catalysed asymmetric transformations. Deliverables: Synthesis of gram quantities of lactose-derived N,N ligands with a range of alcohol-protected groups. Synthesis of gram quantities of lactose-derived N,N,N ligands with a range of alcohol-protected groups. Prepare metal complexes of these ligands for structural characterisation (X-ray crystallography). Objective 2: Applications in asymmetric catalysis – screen a range of metal-catalysed processes to test the enantiodifferentiating ability of these novel ligands. Deliverables: Testing metal complexes of lactose-derived N,N ligands in asymmetric catalysis. Testing metal complexes of lactose-derived N,N,N ligands in asymmetric catalysis. Optimisation of successful asymmetric catalytic transformations to include a substrate scope.

Primary Investigator

Prof Patrick Guiry (UCD)

Staff

Postdoctorate Researchers: Dr Martin Pedersen (UCD) Dr Balajii Rokade (UCD) Postgraduate Researchers: Sandra Bulawa (UCD) Morgan Morris (UCD) Dennis Bengtsson (UCD)

Use of biomass-derived gases as feedstock materials for synthetic chemistry

The aim of the project is to investigate the use of CO2 and syngas (H2/CO) produced from biomass in metal-catalysed, direct and enantioselective carboxylation and carbonylation of styrenes for the production of high value fine chemicals of interest to the pharmaceutical industry. The production of pure CO2 and syngas will require (i) optimisation of pyrolysis, gasification, chemical looping combustion, separation and purification (link to Platform 1 – PP-1 and PP-2) (ii) test a range of ligands to determine both regioselectivity and enantioselectivity; (iii) extend alkene substrates to naturally occurring examples; (iv) apply methodology to compounds of pharmaceutical interest.

Primary Investigator

Prof Patrick Guiry (UCD)

Staff

Postdoctorate Researchers: Dr Balaji Rokade (UCD) Postgraduate Researchers: Ayman Hijazi (UL)

Research (2017 – 2023)

Sustainability

Ensuring the bioeconomy is sustainable and circular.

projects

Bioeconomic modelling / life cycle costing / natural capital

The goal of this project is firstly to demonstrate how the bioeconomy and natural capital approaches are related, and secondly how emerging ecosystem service and natural capital approaches can be applied to inform an environmentally sustainable bioeconomy using pilot case-studies in Ireland.

Staff

Postdoctorate Researchers: Dr Cathal Geoghegan (NUIG, from June 2018) Postgraduate Researchers: Andrew Neill (TCD, from September 2019)

Consumer and societal understanding of the bioeconomy

The objectives of this project are, firstly, exploring how to cultivate consumption of bio-based products; and secondly, to explore societal acceptance of bio-based products. The project seeks to gain a better understanding of consumers’ and wider society’s understanding and interpretation of the bioeconomy, the factors that present consumer and societal acceptance challenges and require effective engagement with consumers and the scientific community in communication with consumers and society regarding bio-based products.

Primary Investigator

Dr Maeve Henchion (Teagasc)

Staff

Postgraduate Researchers: Khalid Medani (December 2018 – October 2019) Nima Nejadrezaei (from September 2020) Mina Sadeghzadeh (from January 2021)

Life cycle thinking

Holistic evaluation of a bioeconomy idea, be that a feedstock, technology, or system, is required to properly understand the impacts and implications of the transition from conventional, fossil resource depleting economy, to a sustainable bioeconomy. The overall goal of these projects was to advance thinking about how life cycle thinking, which is now widely adopted by policy makers in the European Union, can be used to better understanding the impacts (social, environmental, and economic) of bioeconomy projects. The quantitative method, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) offers many advantages for stakeholders wishing to understand the implications of an innovation, including being holistic (cradle to grave/cradle), multi-impact (e.g., climate, water, energy, soil, atmosphere, ecosystems) and having scientifically agreed impact methods and ISO accounting rules. However, many of the norms and rules adopted in practice were devised before the advent of bioeconomy and circular economy concepts. The projects address useful method adaptations to maximise the value of LCA (e.g., assessment of assumptions, attributional vs consequential approaches, stakeholder perception of system function, land use pressures and the expression of impact in terms of ecoefficiency rather than absolute impact). The approach taken is (i) to assess the methodological implications of rules used for environmental life cycle assessment and the development of a readiness level framework linked to LCA (3.3.1), which is the foundation of all other LCA methods, (ii) to develop specific social methods suitable for bioeconomy projects (3.3.2) and (iii) to develop an assessment framework factoring in land use pressure and absolute impacts (3.3.3), with a particular focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). All ideas being developed are being tested using case studies selected from platform and spoke research activity (submerged mushroom production, seaweed extraction, cereal storage, alternative farming practices), and because of the Covid-19 situation, they are also being assessed using case studies in Brazil (organic egg production, local farmer cooperative/hotel bioeconomy network and agroforestry production of organic lime).

Primary Investigator

Prof Nicholas M. Holden (UCD)

Staff

Postgraduate Researchers: Nishtha Talwar (from January 2020) Julia Virgolino (from May 2019) Michelle Savian (from May 2019)

Policy coherence and public policy in market development

The bioeconomy will involve radical innovation that may disrupt established routines and create resistance and anxieties, which need to be understood. Development of the bioeconomy will be a socio-technical transition where advancements in technology interact and co-evolve with consumer practices, business, markets, policy, cultural meaning, and infrastructure. In project 3.2, qualitative and quantitative social science research methods are being deployed to understand consumer and citizen perspectives of the bioeconomy. Both are required for acceptance of the concept and its products and services. Acceptance by the consumer is fundamental to market development and acceptance by citizens is essential for governance.

Staff

Postdoctorate Researchers: Dr Luke Kelleher (October 2018 – October 2020) Anne Pender (from January 2022) Postgraduate Researchers: Hannah Gould (from February 2020)

Societal engagement, business interface and knowledge hub

Business Interface: Set up and run events for the business community in Ireland to increase their awareness and engagement with the bioeconomy, including workshops and individual meetings.

Primary Investigator

Prof Nicholas Holden (UCD)

Staff

Postdoctorate Researchers: Dr Orlagh Reynolds (UCD, October 2018 – August 2021) Dr Aideen O’Dochartaigh (UCD, October 2018 – August 2020) Postgraduate Researchers: Kieran Harrahill (Teagasc, from October 2018 )