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Rosetta Green and Seambiotic Will Collaborate in the Development of Improved Algal Strains for the Biofuel Industry
Posted On: August 4, 2010Rosetta Green, a company specializing in the identification of unique genes in plants and algae for the cleantech and plant biotech industries and Seambiotic, a company specializing in the growth of algae at industrial scale, announced yesterday that they have signed a collaboration agreement to develop and test improved algal strains for the biofuel industry. According to the agreement, Rosetta Green will be responsible for the development of the strains and Seambiotic will be in charge of large scale algal growth and biofuel production.
The companies will initially focus on increasing the oil content of the algae and producing strains that can better withstand contamination. The companies have formed a joint steering committee that will be responsible for the management and operation of the collaboration. The proof of concept phase of the collaboration is anticipated to last about two years, during which the companies will explore the development of facilities for producing biofuel from algae on an industrial scale.
TNO to Partner on Algae Food Ingredient Extraction Project
Posted On: August 4, 2010TNO and industrial algae producer Ingrepro Renewables B.V. are starting a joint research project to extract food ingredients from algae. These food ingredients are mainly proteins that could be used as a sustainable alternative to meat, and healthy vegetable oils. Additionally, the partners will examine if and how carbohydrates from algae can be used. Currently, most of the initiatives for the use of algae are related to the oil as a potential replacement for fossil fuels.
In the research project, Ingrepro Renewables B.V. is responsible for the algae production and for setting up the biorefinery process. TNO will develop the technologies for extraction and refining the oil, proteins and carbohydrates and will work on the possible applications of the ingredients. This two-year project has a volume of 1.5 million euros, which is largely funded by the Biorefinery encouragement scheme of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV).
Solazyme Delivers 100% Algal-Derived Renewable Jet Fuel to U.S. Navy
Posted On: July 22, 2010Solazyme, Inc. is helping the U.S. military move closer to powering its planes, ships, tanks and trucks on renewable fuel and has delivered of 1,500 gallons of 100% algae-based jet fuel for the U.S. Navy’s testing and certification program. The U.S. Navy has previously announced the objective to operate at least 50% of its fleet on clean, renewable fuel by 2020, and the delivery fulfills a contract awarded to Solazyme by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in September 2009.
Solazyme, a renewable oil and green bioproducts company and leader in algal biotechnology, manufactured the world’s first 100% algal-based jet fuel through its proprietary fermentation process in collaboration with renewable jet fuel processing technology from Honeywell’s UOP. Solazyme’s renewable Solajet(TM)HRJ-5 is designed to meet all of the requirements for Naval renewable aviation fuel. In preliminary tests, it also meets the fuel requirements of the U.S. Air Force and meets the standards for commercial jet fuel.
Algal Biomass Summit Releases Meeting Agenda
Posted On: July 22, 2010The 2010 Algae Biomass Summit recently released the event’s newly-expanded agenda featuring more than 70 speakers and seven new sessions. The 4th annual event will be held September 28-30 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Arizona.
Ocean Nutrition Canada (ONC) Adds New Omega-3 Microencapsulation Technology to Portfolio
Posted On: July 16, 2010Ocean Nutrition Canada (ONC) has added a new microencapsulation technology to its offerings buy purchasing a five-year license to the fish oil business and encapsulation technology of Austrian tech firm, GAT Food Essentials.
The undisclosed deal will see the Canadian fish oil leader take exclusive rights to GAT’s wowCAPS technology that has proved particularly suitable to dairy formulations, although ONC’s own PowderLoc encapsulation technology has had success there too.
ONC will also take control of GAT’s existing customers in the fish oil space, with there being potential for the two to work together on research and development and formulation.
Chitin in anti-aging formulations
Posted On: June 23, 2010Technical paper by author Yash Kamath: Skin aging leads to decline in its functions such as increase in trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), decrease in the production of collagen,elastin and the extracellular matrix (ECM). The overall effect is the thinning of the skin, dryness, and wrinkling. The ECM acts as a material transport medium for the cellular entities like the keratinocytes in the epidermis and fibroblasts in the dermis. Environmental factors damage the skin chemically by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals.
The protection of skin from these insults requires a group of actives consisting of cell protectants, antioxidants, and immunomodulant compounds. In this technical paper the authors have found that the concoction of these ingredients in the form of an emulsion works much better when chitin nanocrystals (nanofibers) are added. A number of factors indicative of anti-aging effects, such as fibroblast proliferation, collagen increase, ATP production etc. are significantly improved by the addition of chitin. The effect is attributed to the biocompatibility of products of chitin breakdown. It can promote the synthesis of hyaluronic acid. Penetration of chitooligomers generate glucosamine and N-acetyl-glucosamine which are incorporated into the ECM by phosphorylation.
Source: “Cosmetic science in skin aging: Achieving the efficacy by the chitin nano-structured crystallites”, P. Morganti et al., SOFW-Journal, 136, 14-24 (2010)
Euromares 2010, held recently in Spain — results in advancement of marine and maritime policies of the EU
Posted On: May 21, 2010The latest advances and emerging ideas in the field of marine research, maritime innovation and the evaluation of the marine medium were at the forefront of the debates in the conference Euromares 2010, held from 18 to 19 May in Guijon, Spain.
Some 200 scientists, managers, politicians, authorities related to research and planning of the marine medium, NGO, the maritime industry and leaders of the maritime industry of all the Member States of the European Union (EU) participated in the event.
Researchers in India Claim To Heal Wounds Within Seconds Using Chitin
Posted On: April 28, 2010Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology – Kanpur (IIT-K) campus from the Department of Biological Sciences and Bio-Engineering claim to have developed a polymer that can stop bleeding in five seconds when applied to a wound. Ashok Kumar Kaul, Assistant Professor in the Bio-Sciences and Bio-Engineering Department has told that such a polymer that promotes haemostasis, which is the process of preventing the blood flow from an injured body part, has not yet been developed elsewhere.
Algae as a source for electricity
Posted On: April 20, 2010In an electrifying first, Stanford scientists have plugged into algae cells and harnessed a tiny electrical current. They found it at the very source of energy production – photosynthesis, a plant’s method of converting sunlight to chemical energy. It may be a first step toward generating high-efficiency bioelectricity that doesn’t give off carbon dioxide as a byproduct, the researchers say.
“We believe we are the first to extract electrons out of living plant cells,” said WonHyoung Ryu, the lead author of the paper published in the March issue of Nano Letters. Ryu conducted the experiments while he was a research associate for mechanical engineering Professor Fritz Prinz.
The Stanford research team developed a unique, ultra-sharp nanoelectrode made of gold, specially designed for probing inside cells. They gently pushed it through the algal cell membranes, which sealed around it, and the cell stayed alive. From the photosynthesizing cells, the electrode collected electrons that had been energized by light and the researchers generated a tiny electrical current.
Norwegian natural marine ingredient set to revolutionize anti-aging market
Posted On: March 30, 2010The new marine ingredient offers multiple applications including gentle exfoliation and moisturizing, shown to accelerate new skin cell growth.
Aqua Bio Technology AS (ABT), a Norwegian marine biotechnology company developing innovative active ingredients for the global personal care industry, today announced the global launch of ZONASE X™, a natural anti-aging ingredient composed of marine peptides and unique, non-toxic marine enzymes. Following successful launch in the highly demanding Scandinavian market, ZONASE X™ is now ready for the global market.
The primary benefit of the unique ZONASE X is gentle, yet effective exfoliation, making it a safe and natural alternative to α-hydroxy acid, harsh fruit enzyme peels, and other potentially caustic exfoliating agents. In addition, the ingredient has shown excellent moisturizing properties, allowing for accelerated skin cell growth. “The anti-aging category is driving the market, with forecasts of double-digit growth over the next five years,” said Thor Arne Talseth, Executive Chairman. “Our testing shows that all-natural ZONASE X is as effective as other exfoliants on the market – yet does not have the same abrasive qualities and is far gentler on the skin. It also offers a moisturizing benefit, providing additional value. These positive attributes have been very well-received during Scandinavian launch, and we believe this unique discovery could quickly become a dominant ingredient within the anti-aging segment.”
ZONASE X was first discovered at the salmon fish hatcheries in Norway, where hatchery staff members had surprisingly smooth hands – despite being immersed in intensely cold water for long periods. Their smooth skin was in fact due to an enzyme in the water secreted by fish larvae inside the egg just prior to hatching. This enzyme helps to break the egg shell during hatching — without harming the highly fragile larvae inside. Further research on this new enzyme indicated that the egg shell had a protein structure akin to corneum proteins of human skin. Thus, the connection to the smooth hands was made – and a new, natural and gentle exfoliant was discovered.
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