GREEN and BLUE sector by-products valorization

Our laboratory has expertise in the isolation of high value compounds (either in the form of extracts or as pure compounds), from by-products of the Green and the Blue sectors.

Specifically, regarding the isolation from the Green sector, our laboratory has extensive experience regarding both the isolation of extracts and pure compounds, for nutraceutical applications.  The main source of the nutraceutical extracts is fruit-bearing plants, such as Cornus Mas L., while for the isolation of pure compounds, our main focus is oleuropein, from low value byproducts of the olive harvesting from Olea europaea plants, a characteristic plant of the local biodiversity.

Regarding the Blue sector, bioactive compounds from residual materials of marine resources were extracted to be used as bio-stimulants, enhancing the tolerance of plants in stress conditions, such as temperature and drought.  The main sources of marine by-products were mussels’ shells, algae and fish bones.  Recently, our research activities were broadened, including the isolation of pure compounds, such as collagen, from marine by-products, to be used as biobased macromolecule.

In every case, after the isolation of the compounds, the complete physicochemical and bioactivity profile of the material is delineated, in a multi-assay approach, depending on the application.

Based on that, the Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry and Advanced Materials, of the School of Chemical Engineering of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, would be eager to join a consortium, where our expertise can provide value, isolating high-value products from valorized biowaste.