ABACUS

Algae for a biomass applied to the production of added value compounds

Project details

Type of project: Research & Innovation Action
Project focus: Food, feed & cosmetics
Feedstock origin: Aquatic
Feedstock type: Micro/macro algae

Project period: 1 May 2017 - 31 July 2020
Status: Completed
CBE JU Contribution: € 4 653 658,66
Call identifier: H2020-BBI-JTI-2016

Summary

Microalgae are a renewable resource with real promise for Europe’s blue bioeconomy, yet the sector remains small and largely confined to niche markets such as animal feed, nutrition and cosmetics. Growing algae at scale in a way that is both affordable and environmentally responsible has, so far, held back wider uptake.

The ABACUS project took up this challenge by looking at microalgae as a source of high-value natural ingredients. It focused on terpenoids, a large family of molecules prized for their scents, colours and health-supporting properties, which opened the door to premium markets such as fragrances, nutraceuticals and cosmetics.

Rather than treating cultivation, processing and market demand as separate problems, ABACUS tackled them together. The project worked towards a microalgae biorefinery, in which the whole biomass is valued rather than a single compound, and combined biology, process engineering and market insight to make algae-based ingredients a competitive alternative to conventional sources. ABACUS contributed to building a more reliable and profitable European microalgae industry, with the potential to bring new, sustainable products to market.

Source: CORDIS

Market and product definition: defined market opportunities and product specifications for algae-derived products.
Algae selection: selected the specific algae needed to meet these product specifications.
Process optimisation: optimised the production process and designed tools and procedures for process management.
Validation: demonstrated cost-in-use acceptance of algal fractions for targeted lead applications (fragrances, nutraceuticals) and side-product streams.
Sustainability and viability assessment: fully assessed the acceptability of algae-derived products and production processes using comprehensive Technical Economical and Life Cycle Analyses.

Results

Cultivation: raised productivity by more than 50% at pilot and industrial scale, yielding over 200kg of biomass enriched in carotenoids and terpenoids.
Extraction and testing: implemented green, low-cost methods for multi-product fractionation and direct carotenoid extraction, then assessed the purified compounds for technical performance and market suitability, particularly in cosmetics.
Models and sensors: developed life cycle and techno-economic models to evaluate viability and designed new probes and sensors for monitoring and automating industrial photobioreactors, some of which were integrated into a commercial, industry-compliant demonstrator.
Market analysis: identified major trends and product specifications across cosmetics, food, nutraceuticals and fragrances, defining target products and markets.
Strains: screened over 150 microalgae and cyanobacteria strains, prioritised six commercially relevant species and developed four genetically stable cyanobacteria that produced light terpenes continuously for over a year.

Impacts

Scale-up and efficiency: new separation, purification and extraction processes delivered the yield and cost needed for viable scale-up, with higher yield per unit of biomass than current routes to comparable products.
Regulatory readiness: products were developed to meet EU safety, quality and purity requirements, easing market access.
Innovation capacity: connected algae producers with larger flavour and fragrance companies seeking natural, bio-based sources.
Sustainability: showed that algae, can provide protein more efficiently than terrestrial plants while absorbing CO2.
Jobs and growth: opened pathways in fast-growing sectors: nutraceuticals, cosmetics and specialty fragrances.

High and ultra-high pressure processes proven a sustainable alternative for the valorisation of microalgae
The Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 01 January 2021
The ABACUS project demonstrated that high and ultra-high extraction techniques were effective in extracting bioactive compounds from Nannochloropsis oceanica. The scientific article emphasises the need to optimise the extraction process according to the desired bioactive compound. Read article

ABACUS publishes a paper on microalga as a source of biomass
03 April 2019
ABACUS project published its first peer-reviewed article in the open-access Molecules journal. The paper focuses on Porphyridium cruentum microalga as a good natural source for a variety of interesting bioactive compounds. Read the article