Phosphate recovery from wheat product stream

Phosphate recovery from a semi-dry wheat product stream

Among other things, Cargill processes wheat into semi-finished products, such as starches, glucoses, gluten and high-fibre animal feed, some of which contain a lot of minerals. Phosphate is one of the minerals that wheat introduces into the production process, and we would like to remove that phosphate from our semi-dry product stream by means of an innovative breakthrough. 

Background: 

• To separate wheat into semi-finished products, it is turned into a dough that can then be separated into starch, proteins, fibres and the like.
• Phosphate occurs naturally in wheat,
• but we want to reduce the phosphate content of certain semi-finished products.
• The recovered phosphate can then be reused, and we are looking to explore potential opportunities.
• Phosphate is a large molecule that moves poorly in semi-dry products.
• We expect recovery to be easiest during intermediate processing steps, when the semi-finished products have a moisture content of 30-35%. In some production steps, their moisture content can even exceed 50%.

What are we looking for?

Cost-effective technology/technologies that can selectively isolate phosphate from semi-dry product streams. There are no further requirements regarding the form of the recovered phosphate.

What aren’t we looking for?

• Technologies that can extract phosphate from aqueous streams – this is a known technology. 
• Non-cost-effective technologies.

What’s in it for you?

• Chance to win a €20,000 contract to develop and test a prototype/pilot with us.
• Chance to work in an innovative testing environment.
• Interesting partner network.
• Chance of a follow-up project, opportunity to scale up the pilot, or a lasting partnership after a successful pilot.
• On top of that, you can count on the support of and cooperation with creative, inspiring specialists who will challenge you to keep improving your product.

How can BioVoice benefit you?

An Innovation Contract. After concluding an innovation contract, you can get started with the development process. You’ll have access to:

• funding (€10,000 vouchers, to be spend in the regional ecosystem on, for example, lab- and demo-facilities, NDA or IP advice, etc.)
• (international) markets
• knowledge and partners
• resources and research facilities
• business and upscaling opportunities
• and: a launching customer!

The BioVoice program

BioVoice is an initiative of REWIN West-Brabant, Green Chemistry Campus, the joint Rabobanks of Southwest Netherlands and the province of North Brabant. Dockwize, Impuls Zeeland, Centre of Expertise Biobased Economy and Midpoint Brabant have also joined as implementation partners. Together, we want to give innovative entrepreneurs and up-and-coming biobased/circular talents the space and opportunities to develop and market their idea/product, so as to achieve our common goal: accelerating the transition to a sustainable economy. BioVoice is made possible by financial contributions from the Regional Deal for Central and Western Brabant, the Province of North Brabant, the Province of Zeeland and Rabobank.  

Conditions for participation

• Entrants must be willing to collaborate as partners, whilst protecting each other’s respective intellectual property.
• Entrants must be able to demonstrate a working prototype/product/service.
• Entrants must be able to start a pilot project within 3-6 months.

Your pitch (max 6 pages / 18 slides)

• Concept description: Describe your concept in as much detail as possible.
• Pilot description: Please provide a brief description of what it will take to prototype and/or pilot and what you will need from us to do so.
• Team description: Provide a brief description of the company and team that plans to work on the pilot.

There are no formal requirements for the pitch (presentations, slide decks & letters are all allowed), apart from the fact that it must be uploaded as a PDF file (A4, landscape or portrait) with a max. size of 30MB. Videos, example websites and so on can be included as links.  

Timeline 

• 2nd March 2020: Challenge launches – open for entries
• 8th May 2020 – 17.00 uur: Challenge deadline – entries must be submitted before 5 am
• 15th May 2020 at the latest: Shortlist announcement – Announcement of which start-ups/scale-ups will be invited to introduce and explain their solution 
• Week of 25th May or 1st of June: Digital introduction talks challengers/entrants + information sessions on IP and NDA’s
• September ‘20: Work sessions, during which challengers & entrants seek to conclude innovation contracts + voucher granting
• End of September 2020: Closing event – celebrating the innovation contracts and partnerships resulting from the challenge + voucher hand-outs
• June 2020: Start of development & partnership (pilot)

Questions?

If you have any questions about this challenge, please head to the contact options below. For more information about the challenge program, click here.  

Background information