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Bio Innovation of a Circular Economy for Plastics
Newsletter
Conferences
December 2021
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Contents
Conferences and publications
BIOTRANS 2021
Mikrobiokosmos
EMEC21
MICROBIOTEC2021
Latest Publications
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9th International Conference of MIKROBIOKOSMOS was held in Athens from 16 to 18 December 2021. The aim of the
conference was to bring together a multidisciplinary audience of leading academic scientists, researchers and research
scholars to exchange and share their experiences and research results in the field of Microbiology. The theme of the
conference was “Beneficial microbes at the heart of Mikrobiokosmos”. Partners from IMGGE and TUS
(former AIT) took part
in this conference with posters: “Searching for novel microorganisms and enzymes for polyurethane degradation” and “Effect
of small organic acids on bacterial cellulose yield”.
George Taxeidis from NTUA
held an oral presentation titled:
“The potential of novel fungal
isolates for the degradation of
non-biodegradable synthetic
polymers”.
21st European Meeting on Environmental Chemistry (EMEC21) was held on November 30 – December 3, 2021 in Novi Sad,
Serbia. This international meeting of researchers from all over the world was held at the Matica Srpska, one of the most
important academic institution in Serbia. This conference covered a broad range of topics within the field of environmental
chemistry, and interdisciplinary presentations with 150 posters and presentations and presenters from 15 different countries.
Our partners from NTUA
were awarded for the best poster presentation “Discovery of novel polyesterases capable of
degrading a variety of synthetic polyesters”.
Dr. Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic,
our partner from IMGGE, held a
Section Lecture titled “Progressing
Plastics Circularity:
MechanoBiocatalytic Approaches
for Waste Plastic (Re)valorization
(Overview and progress of
BioICEP H2020 project)”.
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Publications
In the previous six months, our partners had 11 publications
covering various aspects, from pretreatment to materials
upcycling:
Antimicrobial Active Bioplastics Using Triangular Silver
Nanoplate Integrated Polycaprolactone and Polylactic
Acid Films; Materials, 10.3390/ma14051132
Progressing Plastics Circularity: A Review of Mechano-
Biocatalytic Approaches for Waste Plastic
(Re)valorization; Frontiers in Bioiengineering and
Biotechnology, 10.3389/fbioe.2021.696040/full
Polyhydroxyalkanoate/Antifungal Polyene Formulations
with Monomeric Hydroxyalkanoic Acids for Improved
Antifungal Efficiency; Antibiotics,
10.3390/antibiotics10060737
Macro and Micro Routes to High Performance
Bioplastics: Bioplastic Biodegradability and Mechanical
and Barrier Properties; Polymers,
10.3390/polym13132155
Study of the influence of advanced treatment processes
on the surface properties of polylactic acid for a bio-
based circular economy for plastics; Ultrasonics
Sonochemistry, 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2021.105627
Novel Transaminase and Laccase from Streptomyces
spp. Using Combined Identification Approaches;
Catalysis, 10.3390/catal11080919
Composite Films of Thermoplastic Starch and CaCl2
Extracted from Eggshells for Extending Food Shelf-Life;
Polysaccharides, 10.3390/polysaccharides2030041
Upcycling Biodegradable PVA/Starch Film to a Bacterial
Biopigment and Biopolymer; Polymers,
10.3390/polym13213692
Fast, High Monomer Yield from Post-consumer
Polyethylene Terephthalate via Combined Microwave
and Deep Eutectic Solvent Hydrolytic Depolymerization;
ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering,
10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c07159
Computational redesign of a PETase for plastic
biodegradation under ambient condition by the GRAPE
strategy; ACS Catalysis, 10.1021/acscatal.0c0512
Potential one-step strategy for PET degradation and PHB
biosynthesis through co-cultivation of two engineered
microorganisms; Engineering Microbiology,
10.1016/j.engmic.2021.100003
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EUROPEAN RESEARCHERS’ NIGHT 2021
The European Researchers' Night is a Europe-wide public event, which displays the diversity of science and
its impact on citizens' daily lives in fun, inspiring ways! The 2021 edition took place on 24 September in 29
countries.
IMGGE-BioICEP team held on-line webinar and the
discussion regarding the progress of the project.
IBET team held in-loco activities at the National
Museum of Natural History and Science, Lisbon,
Portugal. From wastes to biopolymers: do you know
that bacteria produce plastic? IBET explained how
biopolymers are produced and showed different
examples of biopolymers and their applications.
There were also hands-on activities to make
biopolymer spheres, emulsions, etc.
DISSEMINATION ACTIONS
Our colleague Jasmina Nikodinovic-
Runic, from the Institute of Molecular
Genetics and Genetic Engineering
(IMGGE), participated in the 1
st
edition
of the International Seminar on
Plastics Recycling organized by
AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology
Centre.
In this seminar, we addressed the current challenges and
opportunities relating to the management and recycling of
plastic wastes, as well as raised awareness of all the
initiatives that have been put in motion on an international
level to advance the marked objectives at a European level.
Jasmina introduced the BioICEP project with the paper
Enzymatic approaches in the treatment of plastic waste to
more than 200 experts from the entire recycling industry
chain.
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CIRCULAR PLASTIC WEBINAR
Our partners from TUS presented main findings
of their working group at the Circular Plastic
Thematic Working Group Public Webinar
organized by CIRCULÉIRE on 7th of October.
Dr Margaret Brennan Fournet and Dr. Declan
Devine were discussing various topics including
the state of play of Ireland’s circular plastics
context, including the main policy drivers
nationally and in Europe shaping Ireland’s
circular economy for plastics.
Vukasin Jankovic, PhD student
from IMGGE, discussed plastic
pollution problem and presented
BioICEP project to “EKOBLOG”, a
web portal for everyone interested in
protecting the environment and
getting the basic education in
ecology. Brana Pantelic, in the
other hand, talked about
microplastics, their impact and
possible solutions for Serbian media
company “Vecernje Novosti”.
Dr. Jasmina Nikodinovic Runic presented BioICEP
project and solutions for packaging circularity, in the TV
show “Knowledge is power” (Radio Television of Serbia,
Serbian public broadcaster).
Creating Our Future is an opportunity for everyone in
Ireland to give ideas on how to make our country better for
all. From science, the environment, health and education to
poverty, the arts, diversity and inclusion - all ideas are
welcome that can inspire researchers to help make a better
future for Ireland. Dr. Margaret Brennan Fournet talked
about different ways
to reduce the burden
of plastic waste in the
environment and
presented the TUS
research team and
BioICEP project.
LOGOPLASTE HOLDS A NEW EDITION OF POLLINATION
DAYS
This year’s edition focused on Sustainable Innovation, ranging from
the Wall to Wall benefits to Mission Zero + creating carbon neutral,
regenerative plants and more; Packaging EcoSystem – what it
encompasses and how to move forward, the future of recycling and
challenges recyclers face; world economic overview tied to
sustainability; plastic sorting innovation; the connected bottle concept
and the US roadmap for a Plastic Pact. Logoplaste designs and
produces in-house unique and innovative plastic packaging that
reduces CO2 emissions and creates a positive impact by being fully
recyclable and integrates into the existing recycling streams,
incorporating recycled content, eliminating waste to landfill and
fulfilling product requirements and exceeding consumer’s
expectations.
Interview with Professor Maria
Reis for Valor Fito magazine:
“Portuguese scientists create
bioplastics of the future”.
BioICEP researchers are using
bacteria to transform plastic
waste into biodegradable
plastic and create new
biomaterials such as
nanocellulose. Full interview
available here:
https://valorfito.com/docs/newsl
etter/Valorfitoatual_n30.pdf.
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https://www.instagram.com/bioicep/
https://twitter.com/BioICEP_H2020
https://www.bioicep.eu/
BioICEP on Social Networks