Future of biotechnology

The first circular technology for PHA production

The name Hydal originates in “polyhydroxyalkanoates” (PHAs), a group of nature-based polymers. Hydal technology produces PHAs from waste – it is a way for waste cooking oil upcycling. 

Hydal PHA is bio-based, but does not use primary sources – production of Hydal PHA does not compete with food and feed production.

Future
of biotechnology

The first circular technology for PHA production

The name Hydal originates in “polyhydroxyalkanoates” (PHAs), a group of nature-based polymers. Hydal technology produces PHAs from waste – it is a way for waste cooking oil upcycling.

Hydal PHA is bio-based, but does not use primary sources – production of Hydal PHA does not compete with food and feed production.

Hydal technology corresponds with Sustainable Development Goals and Green Deal strategy:

Good Health and Well-being

Hydal does not use polluting chemicals. PHAs are fully non-toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable.

Clean Water and Sanitation

Hydal PHA can replace toxic chemicals and synthetic polymers in various segments, thus reducing water pollution.

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Hydal is innovative biotechnology minimizing the negative impact on the environment.

Good Health and Well-being

Hydal technology uses waste cooking oil as a feedstock. It represents innovative waste management.

Responsible Consumption and Pruction

Hydal is circular – it closes the loop by making high-value material from waste.

Life Below Water

Hydal contributes to a reduction of plastics pollution in marine ecosystems. PHAs are marine degradable.

Life On Land

Hydal contributes to eradicating plastics and microplastics littering on land.

Partnership for the Goals

Hydal technology was developed in cooperation with universities and companies reaching for the SDGs together.

Power to the Bacteria!

Biotechnological processes use the amazing complexity of life to produce food, beverages, drugs, chemicals and also bioplastics. Typically, biotechnology uses specific microorganism which has a beneficial ability. All that people do is preparing ideal conditions, in which the microorganism yield the desired product. The know-how for synthesis of simple or very complicated compounds has been developed by evolution.

Humans invented petrochemical industry to produce various chemicals, fuels and plastics. Microorganisms can do the same from renewable carbon source! They just need to get the opportunity and favorable conditions.

Power to the Bacteria!

Biotechnological processes use the amazing complexity of life to produce food, beverages, drugs, chemicals and also bioplastics. Typically, biotechnology uses specific microorganism which has a beneficial ability. All that people do is preparing ideal conditions, in which the microorganism yield the desired product. The know-how for synthesis of simple or very complicated compounds has been developed by evolution.

Humans invented petrochemical industry to produce various chemicals, fuels and plastics. Microorganisms can do the same from renewable carbon source! They just need to get the opportunity and favorable conditions.

From waste to PHA

Visit the Hydal factory

1

Laboratory

The most important part of the biotechnology is the collection of deep-frozen bacteria.

Cupriavidus necator is a bacterium isolated from soil that as one of many uses PHAs as stock polymer. This stock helps them to overcome various stress conditions.

It is unique by the ability to fill up to 80 % of dry mass weight by PHA. The strain used in Hydal technology consumes oil and builds specifically poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB). Adapting the technology, we can produce other types of PHAs.

Before the use for P3HB production, we test the viability and condition of the bacteria.

Feedstock

We use waste cooking oil as a feedstock for bacteria. Waste cooking oil is a rich carbon source utilized by the bacteria into P3HB polymer. The bacteria rebuild the waste into completely new compound. Hence, you cannot find any toxin, smell nor fat from waste cooking oil in the product.

Annual global consumption of vegetable oil is estimated to be around 200 million tons and the global market of waste cooking oil is about USD 6 billion, most of it is used for biodiesel production. Unlike biofuels, Hydal technology product is a high-added value material. We use only vegetable oil, thus Hydal PHA is vegan.

We also plan to broaden the number of waste streams utilized – mainly from food and beverages industry. We run further research and development to provide these upgrades.

2

Upstream

Upstream processes include cultivation of bacteria and production of P3HB from waste cooking oil. First, we need the bacteria to divide. Viable bacterial culture from the laboratory is grown in small bioreactor, then bigger one, and then bigger one.

When the bacteria grow in big enough population, they are transferred into production tank.

Bacteria growth is stopped by lowering availability of one crucial biogenic element in the production tank. In this phase, bacteria consume waste oil, don’t divide anymore, but they store the energy from feedstock in the form of P3HB.

In the end, the bacterial cells (dark grey) are full of P3HB granules (white circles).

3

Downstream

P3HB is an intracellular product – it must be isolated from the inside of the bacterial cells.

First, the bacterial biomass is concentrated in a centrifuge.

We have developed safe and gentle isolation procedure, that has significantly lower impact on the environment than standard protocol. After isolation, the product is purified from the bacterial biomass and dried.

Optionally, P3HB can be also modified in post-processing. Due to the original ways of isolation and post-processing, we can control the resulting properties of P3HB polymer and tailor it for specific application.

Our goal
is the new start

The sources of raw materials are not unlimited. It is necessary to include waste materials into production strategies and close the loop from production to consumption. Hydal PHA is produced from waste vegetable oil, suitable for both durable and single-use products. No waste should end in the environment – there are ways for PHA recycling being developed, by that time waste-to-energy facility is the best choice for waste management.

However, PHA is not harmful and persistent in the environment! It simply degrades and enters the natural carbon cycle.

Hydal technology, as much as any other, has to deal with technological waste – this one is fermented in biogas plants. We also search how to reuse the technological waste.

Our goal is the new start

The sources of raw materials are not unlimited. It is necessary to include waste materials into production strategies and close the loop from production to consumption. Hydal PHA is produced from waste vegetable oil, suitable for both durable and single-use products. No waste should end in the environment – there are ways for PHA recycling being developed, by that time waste-to-energy facility is the best choice for waste management.

However, PHA is not harmful and persistent in the environment! It simply degrades and enters the natural carbon cycle.

Hydal technology, as much as any other, has to deal with technological waste – this one is fermented in biogas plants. We also search how to reuse the technological waste.

Every waste is a valuable source!

Circular Biotechnology Solutions

Nafigate Corporation, a.s.

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