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News Archive: 2009

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.