Bioextrax is an innovation-driven company using industrial biotechnology to contribute to a more sustainable future. The company is originally a spin-off from the Department of Biotechnology at Lund University and is today a rapidly growing publicly traded company. Our vision is to be a world-leader in bio-based technologies accelerating the transition to a sustainable, green global economy. The company is consistently working to develop innovative and green solutions based on microbiology and biotechnology.
The core of our business is contributing to a sustainable and circular economy. Based on this platform, we are developing chemical-free methods to produce the bio-based and biodegradable biopolymers PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates) and turn various protein-rich materials such as poultry feathers into valuable ingredients for feed, textile, and cosmetic applications. Read more about our company and work at www.bioextrax.com.
The main objective of this project is to evaluate sugar based substrate as alternative carbon source for PHBV production. For this purpose, the PHBV production process will be developed from different carbon sources through optimization of fermentation processes in fermenters. Moreover, the use of large-scale bioreactors will also be carried out for scale-up fermentation process.
Main points of the master’s thesis:
- Literature study on the use of sugar based substrate for PHBV production,
- Optimization of fermentation parameters to improve PHBV yield,
- Development of scale-up fermentation process,
- Determination of PHBV yield according to substrate and carbon content,
- Characterization of polymers according to the usage possibilities of PHBV,
- Summarizing the findings in a thesis and presenting the findings in both academic and industrial groups
Industrial supervisor: Dr. Taner Sar, tas@bioextrax.com and Mina Hassan Zadeh mhz@bioextrax.com at Bioextrax AB
Location: Department of Biology
Project length: preferably 60 credits (30/45 credits is optional) – start is flexible but will be September 2026.