Challenge
Cargill’s BioVoice challenge was to develop industrial, non-food related applications of wheat proteins.
Challenge accepted!
Start-up CatOlyst Chemtech’s Priyanshi Vadalia started working towards a chemical process technology capable of up to 90% less energy intensive gas separation. Wheat protein was proposed as an integral component of this separation technology.
Innovation process so far
The experimental trials conducted during the BioVoice project period were successful in demonstrating this idea. The technology was also scaled up to pilot plant level.
Preliminary performance tests were conducted to compare this process technology with the current industry alternatives.
NWO (Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek = Dutch Research Council) saw the vast improvement made with this technology and the potential of using various biobased materials insteadof synthetic polymers. As a result, NWO accepted the CatOlyst Chemtech ‘Take-Off’ grant proposal in which they started collaborating with Dr. ir. Monique A. van der Veen, Associate Professor at TU Delft to also synthesize gas separation membranes.
The start-up also formed a consortium with several industrial and academic partners to further develop their proprietary CO2 capture technology.
(Regional) Impact to date:
- CatOlyst Chemtech takes part in the start-up incubator programme of the Green Chemistry Campus (West Brabant) and Dockwize (Zeeland).
- The start-up helps Cargill find a viable route for valorizing their excess wheat protein amounts.
- The technology developed during the BioVoice programme is aimed at reducing the CO2 emissions by industrial sources. It can enable several industries in the region/country bring down their CO2 emissions.
