Take a look at our case studies for insight into the types of projects we have been working on and hopefully for inspiration on how we may be able to help you!
Get in touch to see how we could work together and remember as an SME in Yorkshire and the Humber you may be eligible for our funded support. Please do check back as we will be adding to this page regularly.
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UK-India collaboration successfully tackles industrial waste from sugarcane processing in India
Scientists in the UK and India have successfully come together to take a major by-product of the sugarcane industry and turn it into the valuable bio-based chemical, citric acid.
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Supporting sustainable distilling in the heart of Yorkshire
Biorenewables Development Centre supported Ellers Farm Distillery on their journey to achieve sustainable goals
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Developing sustainable nitrogen for agriculture
Azotic Technologies specialises in the development and commercialisation of biologically based alternatives for nitrogen fertilisers. Their aim is to alleviate the global reliance on synthetic N2 with their Envita® technology. This enables plants to fix up to 50% of their…
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High performance bioplastic that can help combat climate change
Biorenewables Development Centre worked with Floreon to perform pilot-scale testing of the chemical recycling of their base PLA (polylactic acid) material.
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Turning the humble potato into high-value plant-based food ingredient
Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) helped B-hive Innovations Ltd to optimise the extraction method of high-value plant-based food ingredients.
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Unravelling complexity of flavour and aroma compounds in cold brew coffee and tea
Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) teamed up with FITCH Brew to identify the flavour and aroma compounds in a wide range of their cold brew coffee and tea drinks.
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Exploring a hidden value of mining waste
ekolive s.r.o. is a biotech SME based in Kosice, Slovakia. The company was founded in 2018 by a group of experienced biotechnologists, geologists and business developers. Supported by the EIT Raw Materials programme, ekolive offers innovative bioremediation-based processes for recovery…
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Decoding flavour and aroma compounds in hand-crafted vinegar products
The Biorenewables Development Centre worked with the Slow Vinegar Company to identify the flavour profiles of its vinegar range
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New biomaterials combat hard-to-heal wounds
The Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) undertakes an anti-microbial challenge study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Io-Cyte material to combat hard-to-heal wounds
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A soapy Yorkshire producer turns their handmade square soap bar, into a thriving circular business
Ongoing support from BioVale and the Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) helps to accelerate the growth of a soapy Yorkshire producer.
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Turning grass to gas
The Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) worked with STRI, the world’s leading provider of sports surface solutions, to evaluate the potential of turf clippings as feedstock for anaerobic digestion
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Parblex®: from food waste to bioplastics
Researchers at the Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) investigated the production of Chip[s] Board bioplastics materials using food processing by-products
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On a mission to end food poverty in UK schools
The Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) and BioVale facilitated an inspiring webinar showcasing how Rethink Food aims to combat hunger and the legacy of COVID-19 by educating and empowering UK school children.
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THYME-funded projects address challenges for the bioeconomy
The Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) works with regional researchers and industry on THYME-funded projects to address challenges for the bioeconomy
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Recycling compost liquor into organic plant feed
The Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) supported a compost producer Plate2Plate Compost in testing compost liquor as organic plant feed.
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Unlocking a secret behind flavours of organic kombucha
The Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) provided a better understanding of Kombucha microbiome and its flavours
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Beekeeping blooming in Yorkshire
Successful hands-on workshop on the craft of beekeeping was hosted in the BDC Bioeconomy Outreach Centre and facilitated by the BioVale team in association with Abelo Ltd.
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From agricultural by-products to one of the UK’s first circular food & beverage brands
The Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) supported funded trial to establish the separation process for producing sustainable hand crafted gin.
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Novel supplement boosts the biomethane production in anaerobic digestion reactors
The Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) worked with the Clayton Hall Farm Biogas Products Ltd to measure the effect of a novel additive on anaerobic digestion (AD) and biogas output.
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Novel microwave pre-treatment of feedstocks for anaerobic digestion
The Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) worked with Advanced Microwave Technologies (AMT) on a new method of feedstock pre-treatment for an anaerobic digestion process.
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New carbonaceous bio-based material for a variety of applications
The BDC helps Starbon® Technologies to optimise and scale up a process of producing new bio-based material
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Turning seaweed into everyday products
Researchers at the Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) are involved in the implementation of a novel seaweed biorefinery.
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Making pharmaceuticals from food waste
The BDC helps GSK identify a new source of food grade glucose for use in their pharmaceutical products
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Getting added value from wood pellets
The BDC supports Drax to get added value from their biomass before it is used in energy production
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Turning potato starch into batteries for electric vehicles
The BDC collaborates on H2020 project to scale up process for turning starch into a building block for energy storage and chemical catalysis
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Making use of wastes from food and drink production
The BDC helps Courtauld signatories use production wastes from bread, cider and cheese production, as well as vegetable packing
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Using recycled plastic ‘planks’ to grow plants through hydroponics
The BDC conducts growth trials to prove the capability of HydroBlox product as a hydroponic support
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New crops for bio-based lubricants
The BDC is working as part of a consortium led by Velcourt to provide a bio-alternative to mineral-based lubricants.
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Resource mapping for biorefining in Scotland
The BDC collaborates with Ricardo E&E to provide data for Zero Waste Scotland’s sector study on beer, whisky and fish.
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Novel processing technologies to develop naturally-derived insect repellents
The BDC collaborates with Citrefine to help them break into new over-seas markets by reducing product’s scent
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Converting biomass into high-value chemicals
The BDC helps AET develop their technology which uses super-heated water in place of harmful solvents to extract compounds from biomass.
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Shelf-life implications of oil
We helped business, NibNibs with their quest to use local rapeseed oil in their breadsticks, without compromising the shelf-life of their product
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Growth trials for crop stimulants
Our work revealed that BioElements’ product had a significant impact on germination and the early stages of seedling growth; helping on their journey to commercialisation
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Revolutionising nanofiber filtration
A technical textile business using novel nanotechnology to develop high performance, recyclable textiles has benefited from capital funding from the Biorenewables Development Centre’s ERDF capital grants scheme.
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Seeds for growth
Green-Tech’s wildflower seed company is drawing on the BDC’s expertise to help drive change in the horticultural industry by investigating the germination rates of seed varieties from several seed sources.
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Pets snaffling for more treats
BDC has supported the Innocent Pet Care company to invest in more drying equipment to meet growing demand for their pet treats.
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Cardboard cuts out waste
The BDC is helping develop a high quality water and fire resistant cardboard product which presents a niche opportunity for various green applications.
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Helping green the energy market
Capital funding helps Cawood diversify into the rapidly expanding anaerobic digestion (AD) market & in turn promote growth in this sector across the north.
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Meaty opportunities from waste
Using novel processing equipment available at the BDC, Quorn is exploring new uses for by-products from their vegetarian food production process.
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Cashing in the chips
The BDC has been working with Landplan on modelling effective processes for wood chip drying, and has helped fund the equipment to dry them.
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High-value chemicals from household waste
Read all about our work with Wilson BioChemicals to turn household waste into high-value chemicals and fuels using steam treatment
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Bees fight bugs and win
Read about our recent work with BeeVital to test the antimicrobial properties of their newly-developed gel containing propolis – a glue-like substance from bees
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Growing the post anaerobic digestion market
Read about our work to identify technologies to convert AD digestate into a more marketable product
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The seeds of a new relationship
New Holland Extraction has been working in collaboration with us to explore alternative technologies for extracting the special oils that are the core of the company’s business.
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Food waste for high value chemicals
We are working on a variety of projects to help companies realise the potential of food waste as a source of valuable chemicals, for example using microwave technology
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Extracting value from agricultural waste
Advanced Extraction Technology (AET) ltd is working with us with the aim of turning agricultural waste into a biofuel. Separately, AET are also working with the GCCE to extract polyphenols from citrus waste
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Evaluation of microbrewery waste streams
We’ve been working with microbreweries to establish what value can be extracted from their three main waste streams, including spent grains, hops and yeast
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Novel technology for the treatment of biomass
Aqua Enviro Ltd is working with us to test a novel technology for treatment of biomass used in anaerobic digestion using our ERDF funding and is looking to take the project forward using a SMART award.
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Optimising fungi for biorefining high value chemicals from industrial biowaste
Citration Technology is making use of our open access facilities to use a fungus, Aspergillus niger, to obtain valuable chemicals through fermentation.
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Added-value glycerine from biodiesel waste
Brocklesby have been working with the BDC and our academic founder the GCCE to improve the quality of glycerine from biodiesel.
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Optimising industrial hemp for skin care
Researchers at CNAP worked with Boots to analyse the full composition of hemp oil, which led to a new range of cosmetic products.
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High value renewable waxes from agricultural waste
Our academic founder the GCCE has worked with partners to extract wax from wheat straw – with the worked scaled-up to 100kg batches to allow for prototyping
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Increasing yield of anti-malarial medicine through fast track plant breeding
Our academic founder CNAP used fast-track breeding technologies to improve the yield of a medicinal compound to treat malaria found in a Chinese herb – the new varieties will be supplied for cultivation in Africa, India and China.
