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Sustainability assessment of blue biotechnology processes:

Addressing environmental, social and economic dimensions

Paula Pérez-López (MINES ParisTech, FR),

Gumersindo Feijoo, Maria Teresa Moreira

(University of Santiago de Compostela, USC, ES)

SUSTAINABILITY

2

Biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems

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50.000

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150.000

200.000

250.000

Cu

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With more than 70% of the planet’s

surface covered by water, oceans are

probably the most promising habitat to

explore for novel microbial biodiversity

(Larsen et al. 2005)

3

Natural products of blue biotechnology

Agri- or aquaculture21%

Food industry14%

Cosmetics6%

Environment 9%

Biofuels2%Others

3%

Pharmacology & human health

45%Cytosinearabinoside (Ara-C)

Antioxidanta-tocopherol

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How to obtain natural marine products at commercial scale?

Low content of biomolecule

Too much biomass needed

Threat to biodiversity

Open systems

Closedphotobioreactors

Instable supply (Seasonality, weather factors…)

Stable supply

Controlled conditions to maximize yield

Requirements (energy, land occupation, costs…) ?

5

Open systems

Closedphotobioreactors

ENVIRONMENTAL

SOCIAL EFFICIENCY?

ECONOMIC

SUSTAINABILITY

How to obtain natural marine products at commercial scale?

6

Case study: carotenoids from microalgae

Astaxanthin

Red carotenoid (pigment)

Applications as additive in food industry, cosmetics...

Potential pharmaceutical uses due to antioxidant,

anti-inflamatory and antitumor properties

Haematococcus pluvialis

Freshwater green microalga

Cultivated in two stages

It accumulates ≈ 1-4% of astaxanthin

Green phase

Red phase

7

Astaxanthin from H. pluvialis

FU = 1 kg astaxanthin

Sustainability assessment:

- Comparative environmental LCA

- Identification of hot spots

- Socio-economic assessment

Goal & scope

12 L helicaltubular PBR(lab-scale)

80 L tubular PBR(semi-pilot)

Airlift PBRs in series,1000 L each

(pilot)

FOREGROUND SYSTEM

SUBSYSTEM 5: EXTRACTION

Lab-scale

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System boundaries

AST

AX

AN

THIN

IN

AIR

, SO

IL &

WAT

ER

EMIS

SIO

NS

BACKGROUND SYSTEM

RA

W M

ATE

RIA

LS, W

ATE

R &

FO

SSIL

FU

ELS CHEMICALS

(Nutrients & Solvents)

MACHINERY

ELECTRICITY

AIR SUPPLY

WA

STES

TO

TR

EATM

ENT

BY-

PR

OD

UC

T (F

ERTI

LIZE

R)

WATER SUPPLY

SUBSYST 1: CLEAN. & STERILIZ. SUBSYSTEM 2: PREPARATION OF CULTURE MEDIUM

SUBSYSTEM 3: CULTIVATION

SUBSYSTEM 4: HARVESTING

REACTOR STERILIZATION

GROWTH IN PBR

CENTRIFUGATION

SPRAY DRYING/ FREEZE-DRYING

ADDITION OF NUTRIENTS TO

WATER

AUTOCLAVINGINOCULUM ADDITION

(CO-)SOLVENT ADDITION

VORTEX MIXING

CENTRIFUGATION

T

T Transport

T

INCUBATION

REVERSE OSMOSIS FILTER

UV FILTER

SETTLING

STRESS STAGE

SETTLING

SUPERCRITICAL CO2 EXTRACTION

9

Data collection and inventory analysis

GENERAL INFORMATION

Partner

Objective

Production Extraction/Purification

Type of marine organism (please tick the appropriate box

)

Microalgae Marine sponges

Macroalgae Epiphytic bacteria

Marine fungi and marine protists

Scientific name

Bioactive compound

Alternative producer/producers of the compound

Cultivation method (please tick the appropriate box )

Open raceway ponds Shore base farming

Photobioreactor Traditional biofermenter

Tubular reactor Tissue culture

Other:...........................................................................

Mass and energybalances

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Environmental LCA

• Human toxicityHTP

• Freshwater aquaticecotoxicity

FEP

• Marine ecotoxicityMEP

• Terrestrial ecotoxicityTEP

• Photochemicaloxidants formation

POFP

• Abiotic depletionADP

• AcidificationAP

• EutrophicationEP

• Global warmingGWP

• Ozone layer depletionODP

Cradle-to-gate perspective

10 “mid-point” impact categories according to CML 2001 method

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Environmental impact results

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20

40

60

80

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ith

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ct t

o la

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pro

cess

Lab-scale Semi-pilot scale Pilot-scale

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100S1. Cleaning and sterilization

S2. Preparation of culture medium

S3. Cultivation

S4. Harvesting

S5. Extraction

Co-product credits (fertilizer)CO2 uptake (cultivation)

Hot spots of pilot system

CULTIVATIONFor semi-pilot and

pilot, >70% impactsFor lab-scale, 40-80%

Lab-scale vs pilot scale

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Social assessment methodologySo

cial

ind

icat

ors

Quantitative (real value of thecompany)

SOCIETYContribution to

economicdevelopment

WORKERS Gender equality

Quantification of indicators

Normalization(index between 1-4)

Classification intostakeholders and

subcategories

Semi-quantitative(Yes/No or Low/

Intermediate/High)

Minimum and maximum in theworld representextreme values

Yes/No => extreme values

Low/High => rated by expert

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Categories and indicators for the social assessment

Stakeholder Social benefits Indicators

Women-to-men ratio of labor force participation

Women-to-men ratio of salary(for similar work)

Annual salary

Women-to-men ratio of salary(for similar work)

Total working hours per week

WORKERS

Equalopportunities

Fair salary

Working hours

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Categories and indicators for the social assessment

Stakeholder Social benefits Indicators

SOCIETY

Importance of pharmaceuticalsector in the country

Importance of marine biotechnology in the country

Potential market share of thecompany

Available certification aboutsustainability issues

Certification regarding safety of the company

Signed principles or codes of conduct related to sustainability

Environmental assessments (LCA, risk assessment)

Contribution toeconomic

development

Publiccommitments to

sustainability issues

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Categories and indicators for the social assessment

Stakeholder Social benefits Indicators

CONSUMERS

Benefits of theproduct

Information on theformulation, use and effects

Customer service

No. complaints related to lackof transparency

Value added of the product

Product from natural source

Health and safety

Tests performed to checksafety

Fulfilled existing regulations

Safety data provided

Transparency

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Social assessment results

0

1

2

3

4

SME 1 SME 2 Average

WORKERSFair salary

WORKERSBalanced working hours

CONSUMERSHealth and safety

CONSUMERSTransparency

CONSUMERSBenefits of the product

SOCIETY Contribution to

economic development

SOCIETY Public commitments to

sustainability issues

WORKERSGender equality

1 high social risk

4 ideal scenario

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Economic evaluation

-1.000.000

0

1.000.000

2.000.000

3.000.000

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11Acc

um

ula

ted

cas

h f

low

s (€

)

Year

Materials2%

Energy20%

Operati…

Disposal1%

€ 2,068,203 Total NPV

NET PRESENT VALUE (NPV)

PAYBACK = 1 YEAR AND 4 MONTHS

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CONCLUSIONS

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:

- CULTIVATION is the main contributor in both lab- andpilot systems, especially linked to ELECTRICITY

- SCALE-UP effect involves remarkable impact reductions

ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT:

Significant profitability and short payback periodexpected.

SOCIAL ASSESSMENT:

Workers’ conditions + product benefits to consumers arethe main strengths.

ENV

IRO

NM

ENT

SOC

IETY

ECO

NO

MY

Sustainability assessment of blue biotechnology processes:

Addressing environmental, social and economic dimensions

Paula Pérez-López (MINES ParisTech, FR),

Gumersindo Feijoo, Mª Teresa Moreira

(University of Santiago de Compostela, USC, ES)

SUSTAINABILITY