Our revolutionary process is FASTER, CHEAPER, SAFER and GREENER than processes in use today
MBL created the concept of transforming alginate production plants into multi-product, zero-formaldehyde, low-waste seaweed biorefineries. To turn its concept into reality, MBL invented a new, patented process that converts almost 100% of the seaweed biomass into valuable products. Its aim is to use this technology and its expertise with companies who want the competitive advantage of lower cost, sustainable processes for making marine biopolymers.
Currently, Laminaria hyperborea – a species of brown seaweed that grows abundantly in the North Atlantic – is used to make alginate, a natural biopolymer that has valuable uses in medicines and food. However, because of the processes used in manufacture, 85% of this seaweed ends up as unusable waste. As well as generating this waste, current processes consume huge amounts of water and energy and depend on the use of formaldehyde for a critical step. MBL’s scientific team has created the opportunity to transform this industry’s future by inventing a revolutionary process that eliminates formaldehyde and waste, converting almost 100% of the seaweed into valuable products.
The concept of a “multi-product seaweed biorefinery” was invented by MBL. It then developed new process technology to turn its concept into reality, achieving almost total utilisation of the seaweed in a low energy, formaldehyde-free, low-waste process that can be split between two sites:
MBL's alginates are identical to current products, and in some cases (e.g. anti-reflux medicine) they even outperform them.
MBL's cellulose offers advantages over traditional products (from wood pulp) and is exceptional when converted to “MBL seaweed nanocellulose”.
MBL’s other products (e.g. fucoidan, seaweed fibre, low-sodium salt, seaweed bark) have substantial market opportunities.
MBL participates in (and leads) projects with a range of partners, including universities, research institutes and industrial collaborators; examples include the use of alginates to improve Li-ion battery performance and to develop next generation super-adsorbents, and the use of MBL seaweed nanocellulose for medical applications.
MBL has invested several £millions to develop its technology, funded primarily by its directors, by the Scottish Government’s investment agencies and by high profile industry executives. It has also benefitted from grants from the innovation agencies of the EU, UK and Scottish Government.