Concluded international research projects

Development of a new dyeing process based on the ecological optimisation of the overall dyeing process cycle, for European textile SMEs.

The objective of the European project BISCOL is to propose a new dyeing process as global alternative for the bioconversion of raw materials into competitive eco-viable final products through the optimization of:

-       textile pre-treatments, aiming to increase dyeability of textiles versus bio-dyes:

-       synthesis of bio-dyes, using new safe and environmental friendly routes by enzymatic processes

-       synthesis of new auxiliaries at lower environmental impact

-       optimisation of dyeing process, reducing energy demand (e.g. lowering temperature and time of treatments).

All steps will be assisted by Life Cycle Assessment, to embed environmental constrains in each step of the process.

Partners: Next Technology Tecnotessile (Italy), Achimo (Italy), Lanificio Luigi Ricceri (Italy),Wetlands Incubator (Belgium), SETAS Chemicals (Turkey)

CIP Eco-Innovation european project Eco/09/256112 BISCOL

Project Coordinator

This proposal brings together two groups in the UK and Italy. Working together, new and significant insights into the nature of the oxygenase enzymes will be gained. 

The majority of microorganisms involved are aerobic, and therefore grow in the presence of molecular oxygen. These organisms are able to directly attack the relatively ‘inert’ aromatic or aliphatic carbon centres in pollutant compounds, and activate these structures to further biological or chemical attack.  The enzyme catalysts employed in this process are a group of enzymes known as the oxygenases. By studying the oxygenase enzymes at the molecular level we will ultimately aim to address the limiting factors that prevent the full exploitation of oxygenase-utilising organisms, and understand the main processes involved in the cycling of organic pollutants in the environment.

British-Italian Partnership Programme

Italian Coordinator

The EAGLO scientific consortium is creating regionally based instruments for the sustainable management of large lake ecosystems in East Africa.

The African Great Lakes are among the world’s most important aquatic ecosystems being heavily utilised by their bordering countries for transportation, water supply, fisheries, waste disposal, recreation and tourism. The livelihoods of more than 40 million people are largely dependent on the services that these lakes provide, but evidence shows that climate change and regional environment drivers are compromising ecosystem functioning. The international team of scientists is developing regionally coherent approaches for the monitoring and management of large lakes in Eastern Africa. Through a close collaboration, project scientists have developed innovative methodologies and models to examine the impact of future scenarios of climate change and evolving socio-economic conditions on ecosystem services and lake dynamics.

Partners: College of Biological and Physical Sciences (University of Nairobi, Kenya), University of Leicester (UK), Deltares (NL), Makerere University (Uganda), University of Namur (BE), Tanzanian Fisheries Research Institute (TZ), ISP Bukavu (CO), Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse (FR), University of Cadiz (ES), University of Bahir Dar (ET), Lake Tanganyika Authority, Malawi Polytechnic (MW)

Researchers involved