Biome Tech Regulatory News (BIOM)

04 April 2013

Biome Technologies plc

("Biome", "the Company" or "the Group")

Research Grant Award

A consortium led by Biome Technologies has been awarded a grant by the UK's innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) to investigate a bio-based alternative for the oil derived organic chemicals used in the manufacturer of bioplastics.

The research will be undertaken by the group's bioplastic division Biome Bioplastics, one of the UK's leading developers of natural plastics, in conjunction with the University of Warwick's Centre for Biotechnology and Biorefining.

The £150,000 grant has been made as part of the TSB's 'Sustainable high value chemical manufacture through industrial biotechnology' technical feasability competition, which funds projects that apply sustainable biobased feedstocks and biocatalytic processes in the production of chemicals.

Biome has partnered with the University of Warwick's Centre for Biotechnology and Biorefining that is pioneering academic research into lignin degrading bacteria. Biome is working with the Warwick team to develop methods to control the lignin breakdown process to determine whether these chemicals can be extracted in significant quantities and used in the synthesis of bioplastics.

The TSB grant will support an initial feasibility project to isolate a chemical from lignin to replace the oil-derived equivalent currently used in a polyester that conveys strength and flexibility in some of Biome's products. The production of such a bio-based polyester would reduce the cost and further enhance the sustainability of these products. This project is in line with Biome's strategy of identifying ways to accelerate business in the area of synthetic biology, without depleting the Group's cash resources with the full development costs.

"The environmental and social concerns surrounding the use of fossil fuels and food crops make lignin a compelling target as a source of chemicals", explains Professor Tim Bugg, Director of the Centre."Often considered a waste product, it may provide a sustainable source of building blocks for aromatic chemicals that can be used in bioplastics."

If the initial feasibility assessment is successful, building on this work, Biome will explore the possibilities for deriving a wide selection of bio-based aromatic chemicals from lignin, further reducing cost and expanding bioplastic functionality.

"The bioplastics market remains small compared to that of fossil based polymers", comments Biome Technologies CEO Paul Mines. "Growth is restricted by the price of bioplastic resins being 2-4 times that of their petrochemical counterparts. We anticipate that the availability of a high performance polymer, manufactured economically from renewable sources could increase the market considerably."

Further information on Biome's work with lignin can be found at www.biometechnologiesplc.co.uk.

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