New solutions for old problems
August 1st 2004

A raft of emerging technologies are helping combine business improvement with greater environmental performance. The results are sustainable profits and cost-effective legal compliance. Dr Paul Fisher of DTIs BIO-WISE Programme outlines the options for gaining competitive advantage by working with nature

Glowing bacteria able to detect contaminated soil, green seaweed-extracts used to stop metal corrosion and membranes that clean and recycle wastewater are among several novel Department of Trade and Industry projects helping to improve UK business competitiveness.

These Demonstrator Projects form part of the DTIs BIO-WISE Programme, which encourages manufacturing and service companies to realise the economic and environmental benefits of biotechnology.

By working with nature to exploit existing biochemical pathways industrial biotechnology provides new solutions to old industrial problems. Driven by increasingly stringent environmental legislation, the adoption of this technology by end-users is reflected in the markets expansion notably surface preparation, biocleaning and biosensors the number of businesses actively involved industrial and environmental biotechnology supply is now estimated at 280 over the last 3-4 years in the UK alone.

Since the award of DTI-funding, these Demonstrator Projects are making significant progress towards realising novel applications enabling manufacturing companies in the UK reduce energy consumption, and improve water and waste management.

Hand-held water pollution testing

The Environment Agencys ammonia testing regime of rivers across England and Wales currently relies on skilled manpower and expensive laboratory analysis. Advanced Enzyme Technology has developed a sensitive hand-held biosensor that tests ammonia levels in less than four minutes, moving accurate monitoring from the lab to direct in-situ measurement. In addition, this approach facilitates rapid responses to environmental problems while reducing sampling costs significantly.

In addition to Environment Agency interest, the system has private sector application where effluent discharge monitoring is necessary; in particular the paper, textile and leather industries. Self-monitoring may also be required in the agricultural industries, as a result of nitrate run-off, and in the fish-farming industry where effluent from these farms directly affects river ecosystems.

Seaweed improves anti-rust coating for metal components

The automotive and aerospace industries currently prevent metal corrosion using pre-wash coatings based on toxic heavy metals. However, Natural Technologies has developed an environmentally friendly version derived from seaweed that reduces disposal problems, exacerbated by the recent ban on hazardous waste co-disposal and the End of Vehicle Life Directive (2000/53/EC).

Testing of the system by All Finished 4U has shown that performance of the new coating is comparable to existing technologies. All Finished 4U is now collaborating with a major UK-based car manufacturer that is seeking to identify alternatives to zinc-phosphating car shells and is testing metal plates in their paint shops, treated with the biopolymer conversion coating.

Sewage pathogen test helps the water industry

Tighter controls mean that sewage sludge applied to agricultural land will soon require E coli and Salmonella testing to verify viable cell counts are below upper limits.

Microscience Technologies, based in Edinburgh has developed an immunodiagnostic test, based on grids covered in specific antibodies that bind irreversibly to specific micro-organisms. The grids can detect and count these pathogens quickly, cost-effectively and with the desired level of accuracy.

Workers taking samples need no special training and this new monitoring approach will improve ease of field sampling and laboratory analysis enabling the water industry to comply with changes to Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations (1989).

On-site soil toxicity testing

A new in-field test, based on naturally-occurring, bioluminescent bacteria is providing land developers with a powerful new way of assessing in under two hours the risks associated with pollutants in contaminated land enabling more accurate cost-effective environmental remediation and monitoring.

These bacteria emit less light when they come into contact with toxic substances. This fall in emitted light can be quantified and used as a measure of overall toxicity. By providing quicker, lower cost results, land redevelopers are able to identify contaminated hotspots and minimise the overall volume of soil going to landfill. A video clip of the ROTAS system in action is available at www.dti.gov.uk/biowise.