MIRACLES ACTIVITIES
© European Commission/Euronews, 2017
MIRACLES will undertake the following activities:
- To improve the production and harvesting of the algal biomass, making substantial cost reductions.
More info…Production and harvesting of algal biomass.
The overall objective of this activity is to produce algal biomass for the project and to realize improvements and substantial cost reductions in the cultivation phase. Specific Objectives in this WP are:- Development of advanced molecular monitoring tools and strategies to optimize the concentration of target biomolecules in the algal biomass during cultivation, as a first step in the biorefinery
- To develop a breakthrough technology for CO2 concentration from the atmosphere to enable cultivation in remote areas such as deserts
- Development of a novel Photo Bio Reactor (PBR) concept for substantial cost reduction
- To achieve water recycling and algae harvesting with the aid of membrane technology, thus saving water, nutrients, energy and costs.
- To perform bioprospecting, metabolic optimization and cultivation at extreme locations. The aim is to enable cultivation of microalgae in areas with limited potential for agriculture, in order to broaden the resource base of a growing microalgae industry.
More info…Bioprospecting, metabolic optimization and cultivation at extreme locations
The main objective of this WP is to perform bioprospecting and the selection of robust, highly productive algal species for extreme climatological conditions with appropriate product profiles and biomass characteristics, and to optimize their productivity parameters. The aim is to enable cultivation of microalgae in areas with limited potential for agriculture, in order to broaden the resource base of a growing microalgae industry. Specific objectives in this WP are:- To screen the different climatic environments for algal strains with favourable properties
- To perform metabolic modelling and optimization studies to enhance the productivity of target products in the industrial algal platform Nannochloropsis gaditana
- To optimize the growth and yield of specific compounds by controlling cultivation conditions
- To evaluate the safety of selected strains
- To produce biomass for further biochemical analysis and valorisation of the biomass
- To evaluate the outdoor production of selected strains under climatic extremes at partner locations.
- To develop integrated biorefinery / processing technologies, employing mild disruption, green extraction and fractionation/purification technologies to produce multiple specialty products from microalgae biomass by exploiting all biomass components.
More info…Development of integrated biorefinery technology
The main objective of WP3 is the development of integrated biorefinery / processing technologies employing mild disruption, green extraction and fractionation/purification technologies. We aim to produce multiple specialty products from microalgae biomass by valorising all biomass components.Specific objectives in this activity are:
- In-depth characterization of algae biomass
- Development of mild cell disruption technologies, including use of enzymes
- Development of green extraction procedures employing innovative solvents and extractions
- Development of fractionation/purification technologies
- Integration of unit operations and optimization of selected biorefinery configurations.
- Product development and market assessment of algae products produced previously by means of chemical characterization and functionality testing, formulation and performance testing of products in the lab and in pilot trials.
More info…Product development and market assessment.
The overall objective of WP4 is to develop applications of algal products by means of chemical characterization and functionality testing, formulation and performance testing of products in the lab and in pilot trials and market assessment to validate the proposed applications. The aim is to develop: - Ingredients for nutraceuticals and functional food
- Ingredients for aquaculture feeds
- Selected non-food applications
- Application of residual biomass as fertilizer.
- To demonstrate integrated value chains with the aim of delivering a proof-of-concept and demonstrate techno-economic viability.
More info…Demonstration of integrated value chains
The main objective of WP5 is the demonstration of selected integrated value chains to deliver proof-of-concept and demonstrate techno-economic viability. The focus will be on selected biorefinery process chains starting from the algae biomass, followed by biorefinery and the validation of product application. Specific objectives are:
- Pilot production of algae batches with optimized composition
- Validation of selected processes and application testing at pilot level
- Selection of value chains for demonstration
- To demonstrate the feasibility of selected integrated process chains for different target products.
- To assess environmental, social and techno-economic sustainability, as well as the development of business plans.
More info…Techno-economic and sustainability assessment of integrated value chains and development of business plans
The objectives of WP6 include:- To generate conceptual biorefinery design models for techno-economic and sustainability assessment
- To assess the economics and sustainability of the biorefinery concepts and value chain, employing techno-economic evaluation, state-of-the-art Life Cycle assessment methodology, and socio-economic assessment
- Economic evaluation including development of scenarios for multi-product biorefinery value chains for high-value specialties and scenarios for co-production of specialties and algal biofuels.
- Generation of business cases and business plans
- To engage the industry and stakeholders through appropriate dissemination and exploitation activities, combined with proper intellectual property management.
More info…Dissemination, exploitation & intellectual property management
The objective of this activity is to engage industry and other stakeholders through effective dissemination and exploitation activities, combined with intellectual property management, to ensure the successful dissemination and exploitation of project results.Training and education activities aim to contribute to the professional development of those working in the biorefinery and algae sector at various levels with a special focus on SMEs. Activities will include the training and exchange of researchers, the organization of a summer school for young researchers and visits by industrial parties to Miracles partner locations during the course of the project.
Links with other projects
MIRACLES project is connected with other EU Algae projects. Find out more information checking their websites!:
| EU- Project | Website |
| AlgaeBioGas | http://algaebiogas.eu/ |
| PUFAChain | http://www.pufachain.eu/home/ |
| BISIGODOS | http://www.bisigodos.eu/ |
| D-Factory | https://www.d-factoryalgae.eu/2-eng-the-project.html |
| InteSusal | http://intesusal-algae.eu/2/ |
| All GAS | http://www.all-gas.eu/Pages/default.aspx |
| BIOFAT | http://www.biofatproject.eu/Project/ |
| DEMA | http://www.dema-etoh.eu/en/ |
| SPLASH | http://www.eu-splash.eu/ |
| FUEL4ME | http://www.fuel4me.eu/ |
| CO2AlgaeFIX | https://www.co2algaefix.es/ |
MIRACLES SUMMER SCHOOL: MICROALGAE COURSES
