Project Description
EU Project
Digitalisation of nonthermal Extraction of proteins from plant by-products and Electroforming as output Product
Description of the Project
Industry 4.0 includes automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies and includes cyber‐physical system, Internet of things (IoT), advanced connectivity and cloud‐computing to transform production units into "smart factories". The aim of the DEEP project is to use discarded leaves from the processing of beets (Beta vulgaris L.) and the production of faba beans (Vicia faba L.), and to conduct a green extraction of the protein RuBisCO (Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) from the leaves.
For the extraction of proteins and bioactive compounds from the leaves, nonthermal techniques, like high-power ultrasound (US) and pulsed electric fields (PEF) will be used. The idea is to use digitization in nonthermal processing (US and PEF), with the use of sensors (for temperature, humidity, conductivity, energy consumption, pressure, etc. through a smart IoT system). Therefore, a system of nonthermal Internet of Things (IoT) processing (NT-IoT-P) will be developed for monitoring and optimizing the protein extraction process.
Green extraction has many advantages such as increasing the yield of proteins, bioactive components, using green solvents (water) instead of organic solvents, running a shorter process at room temperature, etc. The focus is on reduction, recycling and reuse, towards processing without waste (zero-waste).
RuBisCO is the most abundant protein found on earth (it contains up to 50% of the total soluble proteins found in leaf tissue). RuBisCO is the enzyme responsible for fixing carbon derived from atmospheric CO2 as part of the Calvin-Benson cycle. The goal is to extract RuBisCO and "package" the extract, using electrospinning and electrospraying procedures (to obtain nanofibers) and compare it with encapsulation, the usual delivery process of extracted bioactive compounds. The ultimate goal is the possibility of using nanofibers and nanoparticles (capsules) as additives in products and packaging.
Key Research Areas
Nonthermal Processing
High-power ultrasound (US) and pulsed electric fields (PEF) for green extraction of RuBisCO proteins from plant by-products.
Electrospinning & Electrospraying
Production of nanofibers and nanoparticles rich in proteins for use as additives in food products and packaging materials.
Bioinformatics & IoT
Peptide database development using in-silico pathways, combined with IoT-enabled digitalisation of extraction processes and LCA assessment.
Project Objectives
To design and develop nonthermal Internet of Things (IoT) processing (NT-IoT-P) line
Research green nonthermal NT-IoT-P extraction of proteins (RuBisCO) from selected leaves as by-products in food industry
Research electrospinning and electrospraying process for production of nanofibers rich in proteins, and compare to encapsulation process
To develop peptide database, obtained (from proteins) assuming different pathways (in silico) in the extraction processes (bioinformatics)
To advance NT-IoT-P process and electrospinning and electrospraying process, in extraction of proteins and calculation of life cycle assessment (LCA) to determine sustainability claims – impact to the environment
To develop economic (circular economy) and sustainable aspects of NT-IoT-P followed by electrospinning and electrospraying process – impact to the society and economy
Zero-Waste & Circular Economy
The DEEP project is fundamentally built on the zero-waste concept. By extracting valuable proteins from plant by-products that would otherwise be discarded, the project contributes to sustainable food processing and circular economy principles.
Through life cycle assessment (LCA), the project evaluates the environmental impact of nonthermal processing technologies, ensuring that the developed processes are not only scientifically innovative but also environmentally and economically sustainable.