Projects per year
Project Details
Description
Recycling facilities are currently struggling when dealing with challenging plastic multi-layers, blends, and additives.
Consequently, packaging plastics are mostly landfilled, incinerated or spilled into the environment. The concept of UPLIFT is to introduce biological depolymerization technology as an addition and integration to established recycling practices, by converting persistent plastic waste into more easily recyclable and/or degradable polymers. The project will start by analyzing the value-chains of the future to match and exploit the potential of microbe-and enzyme technology to effectively depolymerize the EoL plastic into monomers. Overall, the project aims at engineering towards greater scale and efficiency.
Moreover, in order to contribute to further innovation, UPLIFT will also make use of an advanced high-throughput screening platform to further explore the potential of new and more efficient biocatalysts, among bacteria, yeasts and fungi. Synergies between genetic and protein engineering, as well as eco-engineering of microbial mixed consortia will be under Uplift’s scope. Furthermore, the knowledge of bio-depolymerization will be strategically applied for the eco-design and development of renewable and easy-recyclable polymers, thus making plastic packaging an available feedstock for the circular economy.
Introducing biological depolymerization to current recycling practices will increase the capability of dealing with large amounts of currently non-recycled plastics. By doing so, UPLIFT will contribute and facilitate the transition to more efficient recycling facilities, thus paving the way to a sustainable plastic system.
Consequently, packaging plastics are mostly landfilled, incinerated or spilled into the environment. The concept of UPLIFT is to introduce biological depolymerization technology as an addition and integration to established recycling practices, by converting persistent plastic waste into more easily recyclable and/or degradable polymers. The project will start by analyzing the value-chains of the future to match and exploit the potential of microbe-and enzyme technology to effectively depolymerize the EoL plastic into monomers. Overall, the project aims at engineering towards greater scale and efficiency.
Moreover, in order to contribute to further innovation, UPLIFT will also make use of an advanced high-throughput screening platform to further explore the potential of new and more efficient biocatalysts, among bacteria, yeasts and fungi. Synergies between genetic and protein engineering, as well as eco-engineering of microbial mixed consortia will be under Uplift’s scope. Furthermore, the knowledge of bio-depolymerization will be strategically applied for the eco-design and development of renewable and easy-recyclable polymers, thus making plastic packaging an available feedstock for the circular economy.
Introducing biological depolymerization to current recycling practices will increase the capability of dealing with large amounts of currently non-recycled plastics. By doing so, UPLIFT will contribute and facilitate the transition to more efficient recycling facilities, thus paving the way to a sustainable plastic system.
Short title | UPLIFT |
---|---|
Acronym | UPLIFT |
Status | Active |
Effective start/end date | 01/02/2021 → 28/02/2025 |
Funding
- Horizon Europe: DKK55,950,000.00
- Renewable Resources and Biorefineries Conference: DKK2,200.00
Keywords
- plastic waste
- recygling
- biodegradation
- upcycling
- UPLIFT
- Plastic biorefinery
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Projects
- 1 Active
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Microbial consortia-mediated polyolefins biodegradation
Lomwongsopon, P. & Varrone, C.
25/10/2021 → 25/10/2024
Project: PhD Project
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Development of microbial consortia for valorizing post-consumer polyethylene via thermal-biological process: The Plastic Biorefinery
Lomwongsopon, P. & Varrone, C., Jun 2023.Research output: Contribution to conference without publisher/journal › Poster › Research › peer-review
File24 Downloads (Pure) -
Contribution of Fermentation Technology to Building Blocks for Renewable Plastics
Lomwongsopon, P. & Varrone, C., 15 Jan 2022, In: Fermentation. 8, 2, 47.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile11 Citations (Scopus)144 Downloads (Pure) -
Critical Review on the Progress of Plastic Bioupcycling Technology as a Potential Solution for Sustainable Plastic Waste Management
Lomwongsopon, P. & Varrone, C., 18 Nov 2022, In: Polymers. 14, 22, 4996.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile9 Citations (Scopus)74 Downloads (Pure)
Press/Media
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Connection between EU projects on plastic biodegradation and upcycling
04/01/2021
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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NYT RESEARCH-PROJEKT VIL TRANSFORMERE PLASTIKINDUSTRIEN
30/10/2020
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media