Project

Splash - Industrial Biotechnology with algae

Around the world steps are being taken to move from today’s fossil based economy to a more sustainable economy based on biomass.

The 4-year SPLASH project will develop a new biobased industrial platform using microalgae as a renewable raw material for the sustainable production and recovery of hydrocarbons and (exo)polysaccharides from the species Botryococcus braunii and further conversion to renewable polymers.

Goal: The aim of SPLASH is to deliver knowledge, tools and technologies needed for the establishment of a new industry sector: Industrial Biotechnology with algae and/or algal genes for the manufacture of polyesters and polyolefins.

The project encompasses:

Development of Botryococcus as an industrial production platform
Systems biology analysis
Development of procedures for production, in situ extraction and isolation
Product development

Publications

Biobased Economy and Microalgae
Broek, Ben van den (2017)
Botryococcus braunii strains compared for biomass productivity, hydrocarbon and carbohydrate content
Gouveia, J.D.G. , Ruiz, Jesus , Broek, Ben van den , Hesselink, T. , Peters, S.A. , Kleinegris, D.M.M. , Smith, Alison G. , Veen, Douwe van der , Barbosa, M.J. , Wijffels, R.H. (2017) Journal of Biotechnology 248 (2017). - ISSN 0168-1656 - p. 77 - 86.
Effects of hydrostatic pressure and supercritical carbon dioxide on the viability of Botryococcus braunii algae cells
Yildiz-Ozturk, Ece , Ilhan-Ayisigi, Esra , Togtema, Arnoud , Gouveia, Joao , Yesil-Celiktas, Ozlem (2018) Bioresource Technology 256 (2018). - ISSN 0960-8524 - p. 328 - 332.
Exopolysaccharides from Botryococcus braunii and the production of bioplastics
Broek, Ben van den (2015)
Exopolysaccharides from Botryococcus braunii and the production of bioplastics
Broek, L.A.M. van den , Klis, F. van der , Stoutjesdijk, J.H. , Boeriu, C. , Blaauw, R. (2015) In: Proceedings 4th EPNOE International Polysaccharide Conference: Polysaccharides and polysaccharide-based advanced materials: from science to industry. - - p. 136 - 136.
Food and feed products from micro-algae: Market opportunities and challenges for the EU
Vigani, M. , Parisi, C. , Rodriguez-Cerezo, E. , Barbosa, M.J. , Sijtsma, L. , Ploeg, M. , Enzing, C. (2015) Trends in Food Science and Technology 42 (2015)1. - ISSN 0924-2244 - p. 81 - 92.
Properties of extracellular polysaccharides from Botryococcus braunii
Broek, L.A.M. van den , Stoutjesdijk, J.H. , Gelo-Pujic, M. , Norsker, N.H. , Togtema, K.A. (2016)
SPLASH: sustainable polymers from algae biomass
Barbosa, Maria (2013)
SPLASH: sustainable polymers from algae biomass
Barbosa, Maria (2014)
SPLASH: sustainable polymers from algae sugars and hydrocarbons
Sijtsma, Lolke (2014)