During the period from June 28th 2017 till August 01st 2017Galina Morzak and Halina Belskaya, associate Professors of the Department of Ecology, were in secondments at University of Zagreb (Croatia) within the frame of the international project of the program of European union Horizon 2020, MSCA-RISE «People for the European Bio-energy Mix», (PHOENIX). This secondment is related to the following Phoenix project work plan parts: WP2 Advanced Bio-refinery Systems based on Under-utilized Biomass, Task 2.2: Non-conventional bio-refinery systems or Deliverable D2.2 Progress report on non-conventional bio-resources based bio-refineries.
Seconders Galina Morzak and Halina Belskaya were became members of research team on the project “Sustainable production of bioethanol and biochemicals from agricultural waste lignocellulosic raw materials” (Croatian Science Foundation No 9158) and they takes active part in the research. The aim of this project is the development of sustainable bioprocesses for the production of bioethanol and biochemicals from agricultural waste lignocellulosic raw materials. Studies of bioethanol and biochemicals production has been performed by the semi-solid or solid state fermentation in the new constructed horizontal rotating tubular bioreactor (HRTB). Integration between production and separation bioprocess stages will be also examined in order to improve ecological and economical aspects of these bioprocesses. The sustainability of bioprocesses will be evaluated through the realization of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The most efficient and sustainable bioprocess configuration will be determined and consequently scale-up procedure will be proposed. The scale-up procedure will be based on the developed integral bioprocess model and other scale-up criteria. Project outcomes will be new integrated bioprocesses for the transformation of agricultural waste lignocellulosic raw materials into high added value products.
G. Morzak and H. Belskaya have opportunity to work with different analytical equipment (GC, HPLC etc.) and different bioreactors for submerged or semi-solid (or solid) bioprocess conduction. Personal research objectives for secondment of G. Morzak and H. Belskaya were to examine the bio-refinery systems for biofuels production from different bio-resources and exploitation of biofuel resources for different purposes. On the other side she has also opportunity to learn about teaching organization at the Bachelor Course of “Biotechnology” as well as Master Course of “Bioprocess Engineering” at Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology University of Zagreb.
The main results of the Secondments of Galina Morzak and Halina Belskaya are two scientific papers that are prepared for submission in scientific journal “Food Technology and Biotechnology”. These articles deal renewable biomass application for biofuels (bioethanol, biodiesel and biogas) production.