European project demonstrates smart separation and valorisation system targeting 48 tonnes of waste treatment and 21 tonnes of CO₂ emission prevention
The MIXMATTERS project, supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking with 18 partners across 8 European countries, will present its latest advances at the International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology (IFIB 2025). The results, to be showcased through a scientific poster, demonstrate the potential of an integrated system for transforming mixed bio-waste into high-value bio-based products.
An Integrated Approach to Bio-waste Valorisation
MIXMATTERS has developed a comprehensive solution combining a mobile Separation Unit (SU), a fixed Valorisation Hub (VH), and a Decision Support System. This innovative approach efficiently processes diverse agri-food waste into six high-value bio-based outputs, with adaptability to regional contexts.
The system will be soon demonstrated in Spain, targeting the treatment of 48 tonnes of waste and preventing 21 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
Mid-Project Testing Results
AI-Assisted Separation Technology
The AI-assisted airjet technology used to separate plastic and cardboard from organic matter achieved up to 90% successful ejection when material density was low. Secondary streams were concentrated to avoid unnecessary water transport, with performance proving feed-dependent across different waste types.
Five Valorisation Units Deliver Results
Unit 1 – Spiral Filter Press Fractionation: Demonstrated robustness across different feedstock mixes, achieving juice yields for tomato waste of up to 90%. The process successfully separates sugar-rich liquid fractions for fermentation and fibre-rich press cake for further valorisation.
Unit 2 – Sugar Release and Processing: Achieved significant biotechnological potential with mixed bio-waste feedstocks:
- 2,3-butanediol production reached 4 g L⁻¹ (batch), 12.8 g L⁻¹ (chemostat) and 50.3 g L⁻¹ (fed-batch), representing a 13-fold increase over batch fermentation
- Candida rugosa lipase 1 (CRL1) production yielded 0.25 g purified enzyme per 100 g total sugars using Pichia pastoris
Unit 3 – Fibre Recovery: Using eco-friendly Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES), lignocellulosic fibre recovery achieved 90% purity at demonstration scale.
Unit 4 – Supercritical Extraction: Sorted fruit bio-waste pits and seeds processed via supercritical CO₂ extraction produced hydroalcoholic extracts with antioxidant capacities of up to 13,000 µmol Trolox eq 100 g⁻¹ bio-waste, highlighting strong nutraceutical potential.
Unit 5 – Plastic Monomer Recovery: Successfully demonstrated hydrolysis of polyesters PBAT and PET using commercially available Humicola insolens cutinase (HiC). PBAT was effectively degraded within 48 hours, while PET achieved partial degradation with 4 mM of terephthalic acid monomer recovered after 7 days.
Advanced Characterisation and Analysis
Compositional analysis of secondary streams utilized VNIR camera, NIR camera and VNIR-SWIR food grade spectrometer technologies. Chemometric models achieved R² cross-validation of 88-95% for moisture, total carbohydrates, total sugars and energy content, with 72% accuracy for dietary fibre analysis.
Aligning with EU Circular Economy Goals
The MIXMATTERS system addresses the EU’s goal to reduce landfill disposal by transforming what was previously considered waste into valuable resources. The project’s adaptable design allows for regional customisation, making it a scalable solution for diverse European contexts.
The presentation at IFIB 2025 marks a significant milestone in demonstrating how European research is advancing practical solutions for the circular bioeconomy in the agri-food sector.
View the complete scientific abstract presented at IFIB 2025 here
For more information about the MIXMATTERS project, visit https://mixmatters.eu/
MIXMATTERS is supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No. 101112409.
