Russian and German researchers team on microalgae and duckweed production

In Russia, researchers of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU) in collaboration with Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) completed an international joint project to create a resource and CO2-neutral energy closed-loop technology from microalgae Chlorella sorokiniana and duckweed Lemna minor.

The main objective of the project was development and implementation of an innovative approach for microalgae and duckweed bio-refinery to produce valuable products with further utilization of residual biomass for wastewater treatment and energy generation.

Both in Russia and Germany, these technologies are already implemented. In Russia, the industrial partner of the project is “Elice LLC”. A company specializing in the construction of residential areas and energy systems started to introduce the technologies for water treatment and biofuels. The German industrial partner “Sea & Sun Technology GmbH” is also involved in the implementation of developments, because the use of alternative biomass sources for the production of valuable components for the food and feed energy is higher in Germany than in Russia.

In the future, researchers plan to apply for a grant of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research and International Bioeconomy 2020 to continue the scientific collaboration. Currently, there are several joint topics on the agenda: the establishment of the biological product for waste fermentation, the establishment of biodegradable polymers, the production of a powerful antioxidant named astaxanthin, etc.