Implementation of the resource recovery concept in the biotech industry

The concept of circular economy is attracting significant attention in modern biotech industry. Downstream processing plants are usually focused on the removal of impurities instead of their recovery in the form of value-added products for additional revenues. For example, carboxylic acids, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, inorganic ions and water itself are amongst various resources that are found in wastewater streams coming from bio-based production processes.

Such compounds have a high value at the global market and could potentially be used as raw materials for the manufacturing feed and food additives, cosmetics, medical products, bio-based plastics, bio-fuels (biogas, bioethanol and biodiesel), fertilizers, and even biopharmaceuticals.