Project КП-60-ДБ/3 on the topic: Development of Sustainable Silica Adsorbents for Separation of Naturally Derived Bioactive Molecules (SAND) funded by National Scientific Program “Petar Beron i NIE” 2023
Final recipient: Institute of Organic Chemistry with Center of Phytochemistry – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Project Manager: Dr. Ivalina Trendafilova
Scientific supervisor from the base organization: Prof. DSc. Margarita Popova
Project value: BGN 120 000
Implementation period: 01.04.2024 – 01.04.2026 г.
Summary
An increasing part of the market of medicines, cosmetic products, and nutritional supplements is occupied by products containing naturally derived biologically active ingredients. However, obtaining pure bioactive substances is a challenge due to the complexity of the processes for their isolation from mixtures (crude extracts, fermentation processes). The adsorbents used in this type of separation process suffer major drawbacks such as low efficiency and selectivity, expensive and complicated synthesis, short lifetime, and inability to be regenerated. As a result, the price of the final product and, accordingly, its availability for wide consumption and the possibility of developing innovative therapeutics based on naturally derived molecules are affected. A solution to these shortcomings will be the development of manufacturing procedures for highly efficient and low-cost adsorbents. Over the past two decades, porous silicate materials have proven to be excellent adsorbents for the efficient separation of bioactive molecules. Despite the abundance of information in the literature on the improvement of the synthesis and preparation of mesoporous silicates, a suitable method for scale-up and implementation in industry has not yet been found. For this reason, the application of these materials as adsorbents in industrial processes for the purification and isolation of valuable biologically active molecules is not possible. In order to solve these problems, the objectives of this project include finding novel and sustainable templates and optimization of the synthesis protocols for highly selective porous silica adsorbents, as well as the development of procedures for their reuse and recycling.
This project aims to develop eco-friendly and sustainable methods for the synthesis of mesoporous silicates using renewable raw materials. The outcome of this project has the potential to revolutionize not only the field of separation processes but material science as well.