The scientific interests of the Environmental Systems Laboratory (ESL) of Department of Environmental Engineering (DEE) are related to issues of environmental protection (i.e. physicochemical and biological waste-treatment) and the development of new technologies for this purpose. The ESL (DEE) has contributed significantly to basic research and biotechnological applications of microalgae and cyanobacteria. In particular, the growth of various strains in laboratory and large-scale bioreactors has been studied in this laboratory.
However, two other laboratories participate in this project, the Environmental Systems Laboratory (ESL) of the Department of Chemical Engineering (DCE), the Microbiology Laboratory (ML) of the Department of Biology (DB). The research interest of the Microbiology Laboratory (ML) (Department of Biology) is related to the study and production of microbial lipids (SCOs) from oleaginous microorganisms, which have exceptional composition or structure, of high biotechnological interest. In recent years, ML research interests have focused on the effect of the use of animal feed containing microelements and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on fish growth and the beneficial effects of them to the consumers’ health. Research in ML also includes the development of innovative biotechnological applications, through the cultivation of selected oleaginous microorganisms in low-cost substrates (agro-industrial residues, raw glycerol, olive-mill wastewaters, etc.) for the production of SCOs rich in PUFAs or their further conversion into biofuels (biodiesel, bio-hydrogen), reducing the toxicity of waste with the aim to be used in food production. In addition, basic research focuses on clarifying important biochemical events in the cells of oleaginous microorganisms, growing in hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic substrates. The ESL (DCE) deals with the physicochemical and biological treatment of wastes (solid and liquid). The laboratory’s research team has great experience in the design/construction and operation of such units in industrial scale. http://esl.chemeng.upatras.gr/index.php/en/
HellenicCenterFor Marine Research
The Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR) is a government research institution. The research activities of HCMR are extended to all fields of aquatic environment. The Institute Of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC) has as its scientific object the research and technological development, which refers mainly to aquacultures, biodiversity, structure and dynamics of the marine ecosystem, genetics of marine organisms, the search for new or improved products and organisms, as well as the certification of the authenticity and origin of the organisms and their products. Specifically, in the field of aquaculture IMBBC focuses on understanding the biology, physiology, pathology, ethology, metabolism and genetics of the farmed or the potentially farmed aquatic organisms, in the improvement of their production and quality, in the interaction of aquacultures with the environment, the improvement of the parent, the selection and cultivation of new species, the development of production systems and management methodologies for all the growth stages of breeding organisms, the controlling and enhancement of the natural productivity of aquatic systems and in the aquarium management methodologies.
Partners
Description of the participants
Departments Of University of Patras
The scientific interests of the Environmental Systems Laboratory (ESL) of Department of Environmental Engineering (DEE) are related to issues of environmental protection (i.e. physicochemical and biological waste-treatment) and the development of new technologies for this purpose. The ESL (DEE) has contributed significantly to basic research and biotechnological applications of microalgae and cyanobacteria. In particular, the growth of various strains in laboratory and large-scale bioreactors has been studied in this laboratory.
However, two other laboratories participate in this project, the Environmental Systems Laboratory (ESL) of the Department of Chemical Engineering (DCE), the Microbiology Laboratory (ML) of the Department of Biology (DB). The research interest of the Microbiology Laboratory (ML) (Department of Biology) is related to the study and production of microbial lipids (SCOs) from oleaginous microorganisms, which have exceptional composition or structure, of high biotechnological interest. In recent years, ML research interests have focused on the effect of the use of animal feed containing microelements and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on fish growth and the beneficial effects of them to the consumers’ health. Research in ML also includes the development of innovative biotechnological applications, through the cultivation of selected oleaginous microorganisms in low-cost substrates (agro-industrial residues, raw glycerol, olive-mill wastewaters, etc.) for the production of SCOs rich in PUFAs or their further conversion into biofuels (biodiesel, bio-hydrogen), reducing the toxicity of waste with the aim to be used in food production. In addition, basic research focuses on clarifying important biochemical events in the cells of oleaginous microorganisms, growing in hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic substrates. The ESL (DCE) deals with the physicochemical and biological treatment of wastes (solid and liquid). The laboratory’s research team has great experience in the design/construction and operation of such units in industrial scale. http://esl.chemeng.upatras.gr/index.php/en/
Hellenic Center For Marine Research
The Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR) is a government research institution. The research activities of HCMR are extended to all fields of aquatic environment. The Institute Of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC) has as its scientific object the research and technological development, which refers mainly to aquacultures, biodiversity, structure and dynamics of the marine ecosystem, genetics of marine organisms, the search for new or improved products and organisms, as well as the certification of the authenticity and origin of the organisms and their products. Specifically, in the field of aquaculture IMBBC focuses on understanding the biology, physiology, pathology, ethology, metabolism and genetics of the farmed or the potentially farmed aquatic organisms, in the improvement of their production and quality, in the interaction of aquacultures with the environment, the improvement of the parent, the selection and cultivation of new species, the development of production systems and management methodologies for all the growth stages of breeding organisms, the controlling and enhancement of the natural productivity of aquatic systems and in the aquarium management methodologies.