PHArmed: A Biological Process for PHA Production from Apple Waste Residues

PHArmed is an innovative Portuguese company responsible for producing PHA in its rawest form, using renewable carbon sources from apple residues. With the increasing environmental urge to find alternatives to regular plastic and an existing expensive way of producing PHA, PHArmed solves both issues...

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Main Authors: Maria Teresa Oliveira, José Francisco Marques, Markus Driller, Rita Sousa Branco, Sofia Pinto, Rita Barros
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade do Porto 2024-04-01
Series:U.Porto Journal of Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journalengineering.fe.up.pt/index.php/upjeng/article/view/2577
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author Maria Teresa Oliveira
José Francisco Marques
Markus Driller
Rita Sousa Branco
Sofia Pinto
Rita Barros
author_facet Maria Teresa Oliveira
José Francisco Marques
Markus Driller
Rita Sousa Branco
Sofia Pinto
Rita Barros
author_sort Maria Teresa Oliveira
collection DOAJ
description PHArmed is an innovative Portuguese company responsible for producing PHA in its rawest form, using renewable carbon sources from apple residues. With the increasing environmental urge to find alternatives to regular plastic and an existing expensive way of producing PHA, PHArmed solves both issues with a biodegradable and cheaper product, with biocompatible properties that make it viable for both medical and pharmaceutical industries. Using apple waste from other companies reduces production costs and helps solve the issue regarding waste treatment. After a complete definition of the manufacturing process, the industrial plant would be installed in Pombal, near two large apple waste-producing companies, with a work team of 15 operators. An economic assessment was performed, and an initial 11.8 M€ investment was estimated for the first year. The project was shown to be economically viable and capable of generating a financial surplus, reaching a break-even point after six years.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2183-6493
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publishDate 2024-04-01
publisher Universidade do Porto
record_format Article
series U.Porto Journal of Engineering
spelling doaj-art-22246ec30b414bbdb7dcf9dca0bbab642025-08-20T02:36:08ZengUniversidade do PortoU.Porto Journal of Engineering2183-64932024-04-0110210.24840/2183-6493_0010-002_002577PHArmed: A Biological Process for PHA Production from Apple Waste ResiduesMaria Teresa Oliveira0https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2680-0215José Francisco Marques1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4575-7835Markus Driller2https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8503-720XRita Sousa Branco3https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8477-1123Sofia Pinto4https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3588-0338Rita Barros5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5627-0785University of Porto, Faculty of Engineering, LSRE-LCM, ALiCE.University of Porto, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering.University of Porto, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering.University of Porto, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering.University of Porto, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering.University of Porto, Faculty of Engineering, LSRE-LCM, ALiCE. PHArmed is an innovative Portuguese company responsible for producing PHA in its rawest form, using renewable carbon sources from apple residues. With the increasing environmental urge to find alternatives to regular plastic and an existing expensive way of producing PHA, PHArmed solves both issues with a biodegradable and cheaper product, with biocompatible properties that make it viable for both medical and pharmaceutical industries. Using apple waste from other companies reduces production costs and helps solve the issue regarding waste treatment. After a complete definition of the manufacturing process, the industrial plant would be installed in Pombal, near two large apple waste-producing companies, with a work team of 15 operators. An economic assessment was performed, and an initial 11.8 M€ investment was estimated for the first year. The project was shown to be economically viable and capable of generating a financial surplus, reaching a break-even point after six years. https://journalengineering.fe.up.pt/index.php/upjeng/article/view/2577Apple WastePHABiodegradableBiocompatibleMedical IndustryPharmaceutical Industry
spellingShingle Maria Teresa Oliveira
José Francisco Marques
Markus Driller
Rita Sousa Branco
Sofia Pinto
Rita Barros
PHArmed: A Biological Process for PHA Production from Apple Waste Residues
U.Porto Journal of Engineering
Apple Waste
PHA
Biodegradable
Biocompatible
Medical Industry
Pharmaceutical Industry
title PHArmed: A Biological Process for PHA Production from Apple Waste Residues
title_full PHArmed: A Biological Process for PHA Production from Apple Waste Residues
title_fullStr PHArmed: A Biological Process for PHA Production from Apple Waste Residues
title_full_unstemmed PHArmed: A Biological Process for PHA Production from Apple Waste Residues
title_short PHArmed: A Biological Process for PHA Production from Apple Waste Residues
title_sort pharmed a biological process for pha production from apple waste residues
topic Apple Waste
PHA
Biodegradable
Biocompatible
Medical Industry
Pharmaceutical Industry
url https://journalengineering.fe.up.pt/index.php/upjeng/article/view/2577
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AT markusdriller pharmedabiologicalprocessforphaproductionfromapplewasteresidues
AT ritasousabranco pharmedabiologicalprocessforphaproductionfromapplewasteresidues
AT sofiapinto pharmedabiologicalprocessforphaproductionfromapplewasteresidues
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