A brand new technique to extract helpful bio-based chemical compounds from whisky distillery waste streams may remodel manufacturing and be price as much as £90 million in international chemical manufacturing markets.
Scientists from RIPCELL, a chemical manufacturing enterprise, are working with researchers from the College of Aberdeen to exhibit the feasibility of recovering high-value compounds, reminiscent of lactic acid, from pot ale and spent lees – co-products of the primary and second levels of the whisky distillation course of.
These extracted chemical compounds have potential purposes in sectors together with prescription drugs, foods and drinks, and cosmetics, the place manufacturing sometimes will depend on unsustainable, petrochemical-derived components.
The challenge was supported with funding from the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC), with samples of waste streams offered by whisky group Chivas Brothers from 12 of its distilleries throughout Scotland.
The analysis workforce developed a course of utilizing a separation method referred to as liquid chromatography to isolate and extract higher-value acids, initially from pot ale. It has now been tailored to retrieve extra solvents from spent lees.
Whereas residue from pot ale is usually utilized in low worth purposes reminiscent of animal feeds, spent lees are at the moment discarded. As much as 10 litres of spent lees are generated for each litre of whisky made, and as a consequence of variations in distillery processes, water sources, and uncooked supplies, co-products from completely different distilleries include completely different chemical compounds.
A life cycle evaluation of the method was additionally accomplished to quantify its environmental affect. The outcomes confirmed that the bio-based chemical compounds produced by this technique have a considerably decrease carbon footprint in comparison with these produced by conventional petrochemical routes. Estimates counsel that on a worldwide scale, the brand new manufacturing technique for goal chemical compounds may cut back trade emissions by 392 million kg of CO2 equal per 12 months.
Following the success of the feasibility examine, the subsequent part for the workforce will contain scaling up the separation course of to show its viability at an industrial scale.
Dr Eve Wildman, founding father of RIPCELL, mentioned: “Round 2.6 billion litres of wastewater is produced from the Scottish whisky trade yearly, so the potential of this course of is large. For many years, the vast majority of these co-products have been used as animal feed, however we’ve got discovered a brand new, extra helpful choice to cope with spent lees that might change the methods wherein distilleries handle and course of their residues.
“At the same time, this could be transformational for the chemicals industry. By taking a sustainable approach to manufacturing key compounds, rather than using fossil fuels, RIPCELL can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the production process. For every kilo of bio-chemicals produced, we can remove 1.59kg of harmful greenhouse gas emissions.”
Dr Liz Fletcher, director of enterprise engagement at IBioIC, mentioned: “This project is a brilliant example of how we can add economic value by taking a circular approach to co-products and applying biotechnology. For both whisky producers and the chemicals industry, this process marks a significant step forward in reducing the environmental impact of manufacturing. We look forward to supporting RIPCELL throughout its next steps to bring the process closer to commercial application.”
Dr Alan Mccue, senior lecturer on the College of Aberdeen, added: “The idea of utilising wastewater from a traditional industry like whisky production for the recovery of bio-based chemicals is highly innovative. It’s great to see Scottish heritage being linked to sustainable chemical production. The outcomes of this IBioIC funded project are really exciting, and I look forward to supporting RIPCELL in the next stages of its development.”
