The Research Council of Norway – CKP (collaborative knowledge-building project)
About the project
Background
Bioproduction, responsible harvesting of natural resources and optimal use of available biomass using green (bio)technologies are crucial elements of a sustainable future. While significant investments have been made in the biotechnological valorization of lignocellulosic biomass, the potential of chitin-rich biomass remains underexplored and is largely based on the use of harsh chemicals.
Chitin-derived products, such as chitosan and chito-oligosaccharides (CHOS), offer potential commercial applications in plant protection, anti-fungal therapies, personal care products, and more. With the emergence of new and expanding sources of chitin-rich biomass, there is a growing need to develop profitable and environmentally friendly biorefining technologies.
The ChitoVal project is a collaborative knowledge-building project (CKP) funded by the Norwegian Research Council. The purpose of a CKP is to develop new knowledge and generate research competence needed by society or the business sector to address important societal challenges.
Objectives
In ChitoVal, we are using the power of enzyme technology to develop novel bioprocessing routes for chitin-containing biomass. The project builds upon the ongoing EU-funded Valuable project which focuses on developing enzymatic fractionation technologies for fungal biomass left over from industrial citric acid production (>100,000 tons per year). As part of Valuable, initial steps have been taken to enable the complete enzymatic valorization of the resulting chitin fraction.
In ChitoVal, our focus is on chitin-rich feedstocks derived from krill, insects, and fungi. We will optimize their fractionation using industrial enzymes and develop novel enzyme technologies to efficiently convert the resulting chitin fraction into valuable products such as chitosan and CHOS. We will produce well-defined chitosans and CHOS with varying properties, including longer CHOS molecules that may offer higher commercial value. The project seeks to develop advanced enzyme-based processes to convert chitin-enriched subfractions or pure chitin directly into chitosan or CHOS, eliminating the need for harsh chemicals. By identifying novel chitin-derived products and assessing their market potential, the project aims to unlock new opportunities for sustainable bioprocessing while improving the utilization of currently underused side streams across multiple industries.
Partners
Partners in the Chitoval project: