In the third interview of our EMBEDED partner series, we meet the team from the Centre of Biological Engineering (CEB) at the University of Minho (UMINHO), Portugal. Within EMBEDED, CEB is exploring how ohmic heating can provide an efficient and sustainable approach to extracting valuable compounds from wine and olive-oil industry residues. From laboratory optimisation to pilot-scale implementation, the team is helping transform residual biomass into new opportunities for applications such as nutraceuticals and cosmetics, while supporting the development of greener and more circular processing solutions.
Q: Can you briefly introduce your organization and its main area of expertise?
A: The Centre of Biological Engineering (CEB) is a research centre located at the UMinho and integrated in the Portuguese Science and Technology System. CEB combines R&D activities with advanced training, technology transfer, consulting and services, aiming at fostering the industrial and agro-food, health, and environmental sectors. CEB develops its activity, combining fundamental and applied research, seeking to implement processes, technologies and practical solutions useful to society. CEB research is focused on 3 interdisciplinary thrust areas covering the molecular, cellular and process scales.
Q: What role does your team play within the EMBEDED project?
A: The work being develop by CEB´s team is focused on the optimization of the extraction process and formulation of nutraceuticals and cosmetics using ohmic heating as extraction technology. Extraction will be evaluated at laboratory scale and then implemented at pilot scale using a pilot equipment being designed and assembled at University of Minho.
University of Minho will also coordinate the activities on the Demonstration of new solutions for on-site applications of the developed technology.
Q: How does EMBEDED align with your organization’s broader goals or sustainability strategy?
A: EMBEDED is clearly aligned with CEB`s goals regarding sustainability. Several of the projects being developed at CEB are supported/include a sustainability strategy, in particular the development of sustainable biomass processing technologies for the development of biorefineries.
Q: What type of residues or processes are you most involved with in this project?
A: CEB´s team will be processing winemaking industry residues as well as residues from olive oil meal industry
Q: What impact do you expect EMBEDED to have at regional or European level?
A: Wine and olive oil production are two key sectors in Europe that demand the development of sustainability strategies that address the challenges being faced by each of the sectors. It is expected that the solutions being developed and evaluated at EMBEDED, considering its innovative character, will impact the sustainability of both sectors.
Q: What does the circular bioeconomy mean to you in practical terms?
A: Circular bioeconomy, by definition, aims at replacing fossil-based products with renewable, biological resources, while minimizing waste and keeping materials in continuous use to regenerate natural systems. In the case of EMBEDED, circular economy means to obtain new products from residual biomass that will be (re) used on the wine and olive oil industry or in any other sector where they will find application. It also means developing green and sustainable processes.
Q: What kind of research or testing are you conducting as part of EMBEDED?
A: At CEB, most of the work is focused on using and evaluating ohmic heating as an efficient and sustainable extraction technology for the processing of wine and olive oil industry residues.
Q: How do you collaborate with industrial partners in scaling your findings to real applications?
A: EMBEDED project includes a strong cooperation with industrial parters and in situ evaluation at pilot scale will be done with these partners
Q: What makes EMBEDED scientifically innovative compared to other EU bioeconomy projects?
A: Process integration and development of a clear strategy for the use of residues from relevant agricultures sector from different regions in Europe. Strong commitment of relevant stakeholders. Industrial in situ evaluation of the developed technologies at pilot scale.
Q: What are the main challenges in characterizing or validating the bio-materials developed in the project?
A: No major issues are expected regarding the characterization of the bio-materials that will be obtained from the application of the ohmic extraction process for wine and olive oil residues. The in situ application of the ohmic heating extraction process may face some logistic issues and this may “limit” the obtention of well-defined samples.
Q: How do you plan to transfer research results beyond the project — to students, industry, or policy?
A: EMBEDED project has a well-established dissemination plan. Moreover, the involvement of relevant stakeholders from the industry guarantees the transfer of the obtained results as well as its dissemination throughout the industry. The publication of papers in scientific journals and the presentation of the results in conferences/workshops will also be important for the dissemination of the results of the project.
