News Archive
November 2009
NOVEL PACKAGING MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS: A SEMINAR FOR PACKAGING COMPANIES
The Industrial BioPolymers KTC will be showcasing polymer testing facilities suitable for packaging and related applications in a one day seminar at BC on the 16th December 2009.
The seminar includes demonstrations and a lab tour, as well as presenting new opportunities in packaging. For more details or to register your interest in attending this event contact Dr Qiuyun Liu on 01248 388651 or by email at q.liu@bangor.ac.uk
June 2009
INDUSTRIAL BIOPOLYMERS KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER CENTRE
The IBP Knoweldge Transfer Centre, funded by WAG and ERDF, will help companies reduce global warming potential of their products by replacing conventional petro-chemical polymers with bio-based alternatives.
New equipment for the Industrial BioPolymers KTC has been commissioned at BC. This includes facilities for Oxygen Barrier testing (Mocon 2/21) and Water Vapour Transmission Rate testing (Mocon 1/50), Gas Permeability testing (Lyssy-L100), Twin Screw Extruder with pelletizer and Melt Flow Index Determination (Ray-Ran 5MPCA).
These exciting developments extend our capacity to work with companies who are investigating using renewable materials in their products. For further information about the IBP-KTC contact Dr Rob Elias, Commercial Manager, +44 (0)1248 388599, r.m.elias@bangor.ac.uk.
SUPERCRITICAL CO2 FOR BIOMASS PROCESSING
BC Chemistry has installed a Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction unit from Thar. Supercritical CO2 can be used as a green solvent - it is non-toxic, non-flammable, recyclable, colourless, odourless and tasteless.
The physical properties of supercritical CO2 can be altered to facilitate extraction of many different chemicals from biomass - such as APIs, antioxidants, spice extracts, flavours, fragrances and colours.
For more information on the technology and applications, contact Dr Adam Charlton, +44 (0)1248 388072, adam.charlton@bangor.ac.uk
THE BIOREFINING OPPORTUNITIES IN WALES: FROM PLANTS TO PRODUCTS
A new report on the biorefining opportunities in Wales has been published. This report was commissioned by BC and prepared by the Chemistry Innovation Knowledge Transfer Network.
The report considers whether it is possible to reverse the economic impact of the decline in traditional rural economies by creating a sustainable biorefining industry in Wales, through the use of renewable, non-genetically modified, non-food crop based feedstocks, which would include high sugar grasses.
This study concludes that:
- Wales has access to a feedstock suitable for biorefining without disrupting land use patterns.
- To a first approximation, Wales has at worst cost parity with competing feedstocks and infrastructures in the UK.
- Wales has a strong relevant science and technology base that could underpin the development of the necessary supply chains.
- Wales has a growing base of local user industries, but more importantly, is adjacent to some of the largest downstream users in the country; approximately 25% of target sectors which represents a £560m market opportunity.
- Market drivers for a shift to renewable feedstocks exist and are affecting the target sectors (cosmetics, personal care, pharmaceutical, agrochemical, water treatment, surfactants, polymers, lubricants, adhesives, coatings, biofuels, essential oils and nutraceuticals).
The report is available as a PDF from our publications and reports page.
May 2009
PLAN VIVO
BC are pleased to announce that they have entered a Carbon Offsetting Scheme to offset their CO2 emissions from travel. The scheme, operated by Plan Vivo is recommended by the Carbon Trust for meeting its five valid criteria, and uses a co-operative approach to ensure that community members benefit directly from the carbon payments.
January 2009
PRINCE 2 PROJECT MANAGERS
BC is now able to offer project management to Prince 2 standards, after 6 staff successfully gained their qualifications during 2008. BC Head of Materials Graham Ormondroyd said "Now that we have six Prince 2 practitioners on the team at BC we can offer the same high standards in our project management that we have been offering in our scientific research." He added "an understanding of Prince 2 will aid us as an academic research centre to understand the needs of large companies that utilise these management systems."
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS RESEARCH
BC's standing as a research organisation in the sustainable products sector was acknowledged by further funding for new projects from the Technology Strategy Board. This latest success means that BC are currently actively involved in 5 TSB projects, each with a consortium of businesses and companies to develop new products and real solutions. These projects represent the two main strengths of BC research expertise - green chemistry and sustainable materials.
December 2008
THOSE CHRISTMAS TREE NEEDLES COULD BE £10 MILLION LIFE-SAVERS...
The traditional Christmas tree that's at the heart of every home this festive season could provide part of the answer to treating the killer bird flu virus abd bring £10 million a year to Wales, latest research has shown
Scientists at the BioComposites Centre, Bangor, working on a Woodknowledge Wales project, have discovered that Welsh grown Sitka spruce contains valuable pharmaceutical material. Those needles which drop into the carpet and are still found months later contain traces of shikimic acid, described by experts as an essential ingredient in the world's only weapon against bird flu.
And now the research project sponsored by WKW, providing leads in innovation, research and development on behalf of the Wales Forest Business Partnership, points to a possible way to extract this valuable new source of the drug from forest waste materials.
"Our work so far shows that material that at best is chipped and composted can provide an excellent source of expensive chemicals needed in today's society" said Dr Dennis Jones of WKW. "And if a viable market existed for more than 70 tonnes of Welsh spruce oil the gross value would be more than £10 million, not including production costs" he said.
Researchers have also discovered essential oils, resins, flavinoids - anti-oxidants which can help fight heart disease - and sugars with probiotic properties which could be used in health products. "Biorefinery of green materials has been proposed as a way to add value to the Welsh forest," said Graham Ormondroyd of the BioComposites Centre. "Certainly our initial research shows that it is possible."
May 2008
CAN WE COPY THE WAY LEAVES CREATE ENERGY?
A joint research project between BC and the School of Chemistry could lead to a groundbreaking new form of cheap solar energy. The team believe that replicating photosynthesis (the way plants turn light into energy) could make green solar power a more affordable option than current silicon-based solar panels.
Read more on the University's News page
COMPOSITES AND THE ENVIRONMENT TECHNOLOGY DAY, 5TH JUNE 2008
BC welcomes WISE and WCC for their Technology Day on Composites and the Environment on 5th June 2008.
The Welsh Composites Consortium (WCC) and Welsh Institute for Sustainable Environments (WISE) will join forces to present a Technology Day on Composites and the Environment. The one-day event is aimed at composite users, materials suppliers, manufacturers, environmentalists and engineers from industry, governmental ogranisations and FE and HE institutions.
The event will highlight the potential for Welsh SMEs to explore opportunities and conceive ideas to develop their business in this sector. For more information, download the event flier here.
To register for this free event contact Anke Skrobek on 01792 602505 or by email.
January 2008
WELSH INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTS
The BioComposites Centre is joining forces with other departments from Bangor University, Aberystwyth University and Swansea University to provide advice and consultancy to Welsh businesses. The WISE project will run until July 2008 and has already generated several successful collaborations, such as generation of fuel from waste tyres.
BC brings many areas of expertise to the WISE project, including characterisation of natural fibres and agricultural residues, experience in manufacturing of particleboard and pulp moulded products, development of new chemicals from bio-derived feedstocks and calorific value determination for novel energy crops.
If you are a Welsh business, and you have a technical problem, small or large, talk to us. We are able to offer advice, testing and consultancy. Convergence funding is available for us to provide advice free of charge to designated areas in Wales. Ask us for more information.