SwitcH₂PHA

The workplan of SwitcH₂PHA is divided into six work packages (WPs) to be realized in a period of 23 months with the active implication and close collaboration of all partners.

TThe figure depicts a schematic illustration of the interconnection and the flow of materials and knowledge among WPs and tasks.

Key Deliverables of the SwitcH₂PHA Project

The key deliverables for theSwitcH₂PHA project are outlined in the right.

• 1.1 Analytical performance data regarding the biowastes
• 1.2 Analytical performance data regarding substrate mixtures used in bioreactors for biohydrogen and VFAs production
• 1.3 Report on microbial communities and their composition in the course of treatments
• 1.4 Publications in scientific journals and presentations in conferences
• 2.1 Report of PHAs fermentation process under batch fermentation
• 2.2 Cultivation strategy for optimal bioconversion of VFAs to PHAs
• 2.3 Optimized protocols for maximum recovery and purification of PHAs
• 3.1 Verification of the optimum PHA production process
• 3.2 Verification of the efficiency of the suggested innovative additions and the use of lower energy consuming steps
• 4.1 Complete characterization of PHAs in terms of composition, structure and physicochemical properties
• 4.2 PHAs blends with improved properties
• 4.3 PHAs derivatives with improved properties
• 5.1 Evaluating the economic effect of the SwitcH₂PHA process
• 5.2 Evaluating the overall environmental benefit of the SwitcH₂PHA process
• 6.1 Financial and scientific report
• 6.2 SwitcH₂PHA website (this one! ;))
• 6.3 Publications in scientific journals and presentations in international conferences

Milestone Trackers

• 1. Setup of techniques for pretreatment
• 2. First set of trials in experiments bioreactors for H₂ and VFAs production, completed
• 3. Optimum combinations of waste and pretreatment
• 4. Batch fermentation optimized
• 5. VFAs production optimized
• 6. PHAs recovery optimized
• 7. Completion of dark fermentation and PHA production experiments in pilot anaerobic digesters
• 8. Completion of the property analysis of the biopolymers
• 9. Production of PHA blends with improved properties
• 10. Production of PHA derivatives with improved properties
• 11. All preliminary evaluation processes completed, and results analyzed
• 12. SwitcH₂PHA website
• 13. Presentations in International Conference
• 14. Submission of scientific articles