Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

GINEXTRA®: A Small-Scale Multipurpose Modular and Integrated Biorefinery Technology

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Biorefinery

Abstract

The chapter presents GINEXTRA®, a small-scale multipurpose modular and integrated biorefinery technology. The GINEXTRA® technology allows extracting the intact fibre for the production of high-quality yarns, fabrics and garments from the stems of the Spartium junceum shrub, a botanical species found in the genus Genista, using a proprietary enzyme-retting cocktail. After extraction of textile quality fibres, two side streams are generated: post-maceration liquid (PML) and solid waste (shives and tows). The side streams’ valorisation is fundamental to ensure the competitiveness and sustainability of the GINEXTRA® technology. Besides the production of high-quality yarns, fabrics and garments, lignin, hemicelluloses and cellulose pulp were extracted from the solid waste and purified. The production costs at the lab scale were calculated for these side streams (lignin 0.35 euro/kg; cellulose and hemicellulose 0.60 euro/kg). Moreover, the lab research results showed that it is possible to use the PML as a component of culture medium in the biosynthesis of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC). It was also possible to reduce the cost of biosynthesis by 25% by reducing or eliminating the amount of individual medium components and to obtain BNC with a comparable or even up to 29% higher yield than the standard culture medium (calculated costs at lab scale, BNC 22 euro/m2).

The next round of research will concentrate on (1) combining in a single-step biorefinery plant both primitive fibre extraction and side stream processing and (2) reducing the ultimate energy and chemical requirements (by an estimate of 30%) for the full treatment of the lignocellulosic raw materials by combining mild thermochemical and thermomechanical technologies with enzyme applications.

Infelise, L. is the coordinator of the whole chapter and author of the following Sects. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7.

Kazimierczak J., Wietecha J., and Kopania E.—Institute of Biopolymers and Chemical Fibres—are the authors of Sect. 6.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Biocatalysis is the general term for the transformation of natural and non-natural compounds by enzymes.

  2. 2.

    Spinning: Best Yarns (Brescia, Italy); weaving: Grandi & Rubinelli (Novara, Italy); manufacturing: ARCA Textile Lab and Sailor Uomo (Palermo, Italy)

References

  • Angelini L, Ceccarini L (2003) Improving cultivation of Spartium junceum as new crop for natural fibres for automotive industry. In: Proceeding international South Europe symposium IENICA nonfoodcrops: from agriculture to industry, Bologna

    Google Scholar 

  • Angelini L, Macchia M, Ceccarini L, Bonari E (1998) Screening of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) genotypes for low temperature requirements during germination and evaluation of feasibility of seed production in Italy. Field Crop Res 59:7379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Angelini L, Lazzeri A, Levita G, Fontanelli D, Bozzi C (1999) Physical and mechanical properties of Ramie (Boehmeria nivea Gaud.) and Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum) fibres for fibrereinforced composite materials. In: Proceeding fourth European symposium on industrial crops and products, 2325 March, Bonn, Germany, Edited by FNR Band 14, Gülzow, 787788

    Google Scholar 

  • Angelini L, Lazzeri A, Levita G, Fontanelli D, Bozzi C (2000) Ramie (Boehmeria nivea Gaud. L.) and Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum L.) fibres for composite materials: agronomical aspects, morphology and mechanical properties. Ind Crop Prod 11(2–3):145–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell J et al (2018) EU ambition to build the world’s leading bioeconomy—uncertain times demand innovative and sustainable solutions. New Biotechnol 40(Part A):25–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bommarius AS, Bommarius BR (2004) Biocatalysis: fundamentals and applications. Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Cannon RE, Anderson SM (1991) Biogenesis of bacterial cellulose. Crit Rev Microbiol 17:435–447

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ciechanska D (2004) Multifunctional bacterial cellulose/chitosan composite materials for medical applications. Fibres Text East Eur 12(4):69–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciechanska D, Struszczyk H, Kazimierczak J, Guzinska K, Pawlak M, Kozlowska E, Matusiak G, Dutkiewicz M (2002) New electro-acoustic transducers based on modified bacterial cellulose. Fibres Text East Eur 1(36):27–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Czaja W, Krystynowicz A, Bielecki S, Brown RM Jr (2006) Microbial cellulose—the natural power to heal wounds. Biomaterials 27(2):145–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dupont JI, Borg A (2018) Destination bioeconomy—the path towards a smarter, more sustainable future. New Biotechnol 40(Part A):140–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Florea M, Hagemann H, Santosa G, Abbott J, Micklem CN, Spencer-Milnes X, de Arroyo GL, Paschou D, Lazenbatt C, Kong D, Chughtai H, Jensen K, Freemont PS, Kitney R, Reeve B, Ellis T (2016) Engineering control of bacterial cellulose production using a genetic toolkit and a new cellulose producing strain. PNAS 113(24):E3431–E3440. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1522985113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bocardo Gerolamo (1880) Trattato teoretico-pratico di economia politica, vol 2. Economia pratica: produzione territoriale, industriale, commerciale; agricoltura, boschi, ... crisi, credito e banche (Classic Reprint)

    Google Scholar 

  • Global Bioeconomy Summit (2018) Global bioeconomy summit communiqué. In: Innovation in the global bioeconomy for sustainable and inclusive transformation and wellbeing, 19–20 April 2018, Berlin, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Hestrin S, Schramm M (1954) Synthesis of cellulose by Acetobacter xylinum. Biochem J 58:345–352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Infelise L. (1998) Le Mans. Diagnosis/development of innovation potential in rural areas throughout innovative networking strategies. A critical appraisal of theoretical works and innovative experiences

    Google Scholar 

  • Infelise L (2000) “Apprendere e cambiare in una comunità locale” (Learning and change in a local community). In: Amietta P (ed) I luoghi dell’apprendimento—metodi, strumenti e casi di eccellenza delle nuove formazioni. Franco Angeli, Milan

    Google Scholar 

  • Infelise L (2002) ALLIANCE—an alliance for the development of business and employment in rural areas: a community learning model. In: 42nd congress of the European regional science association, Dortmund

    Google Scholar 

  • Infelise L (2003) ALLIANCE—an alliance for the development of business and employment in rural areas: a community learning model. In: Regional studies association—reinventing regions in the global economy gateway, 4—rural development and the new rural economy, Pisa, Italy

    Google Scholar 

  • Infelise L (2006) Territoire anticipateur: «un être vivant » en apprentissage (An in-advance territory: a learning living being) in POUR, Paris, 192

    Google Scholar 

  • Infelise L (2007) Nuove relazioni tra approcci cognitivi ed economici, nuovi spazi e forme di democrazia partecipativa. Per una pedagogia del cambiamento in aree fragili (New relations between cognitive and economic approaches, new spaces and forms of partecipative democracy. for a pedagogy of changing in fragile areas). In: Del Don C (ed) La crisi dei confini. Verso un’ingegneria dello sviluppo regionale. Franco Angeli, Milano

    Google Scholar 

  • Kazimierczak J, Wietecha J, Kopania E, Szadkowski M, Infelise L (2016) Utilization of post-maceration liquid from spartium junceum enzymatic retting in biosynthesis of bacterial nanocellulose. Fibres Text East Eur 24(6(120)):45–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim SS, Lee SY, Park KJ, Park SM, An HJ, Hyun JM, Choi YH (2017) Gluconacetobacter sp. gel_SEA623-2, bacterial cellulose producing bacterium isolated from citrus fruit juice. Saudi J Biol Sci 24:314–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kopania E, Wiśniewska-Wrona M, Wietecha J (2014) Galactoglucomannans (GGMs) extracted from spruce sawdust for medical applications. Fibres Text East Eur 22(2(104)):29–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovačević Z, Bischof S, Vujasinović, Fan M (2016) The influence of pre-treatment of Spartium junceum L. fibres on the structure and mechanical properties of PLA biocomposites. Arab J Chem

    Google Scholar 

  • Krüger A, Schäfers C, Schröder C, Antranikian G (2018) Towards a sustainable bio-based industry—highlighting the impact of extremophiles. New Biotechnol 40:144–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pellis A, Cantone S, Ebert C, Gardossi L (2018) Evolving biocatalysis to meet bioeconomy challenges and opportunities. New Biotechnol 40:154–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piasecka-Zelga J, Zelga P, Szulc J, Wietecha J, Ciechańska D (2018) An in vivo biocompatibility study of surgical meshes made from bacterial cellulose modified with chitosan. Int J Biol Macromol 116:1119–1127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.05.123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pichat CA (1858) Chapter 725: Institutions of agricultural sciences and technology, collection in Book XX

    Google Scholar 

  • Puls J , Poutanen K , Körner HU, Viikari L (1985) Biotechnical utilization of wood carbohydrates after steaming pretreatment. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 22:416–423

    Google Scholar 

  • Savorgnan D’Osoppo MA (1891) Coltivazione ed industria delle piante tessili. (Manual on the cultivation and industrial exploitation of textile plants). Hoepli, Milano

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi Z, Zhang Y, Phillips GO, Yang G (2014) Utilization of bacterial cellulose in food. Food Hydrocoll 35:539–545

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wanichapichart P, Kaewnopparat S, Buaking K, Puthai W (2002) Characterization of cellulose membranes produced by Acetobacter xylinum. Songklanakarin J Sci Technol 24, 855(Suppl):–862. Membrane Sci. &Tech

    Google Scholar 

  • Werpy T, Petersen G (2004) Top value added chemicals from biomass, vol I: results of screening for potential candidates from sugars and synthesis gas. U.S. Department of Energy Report

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeo SH, Lee OS, Lee IS, Kim HS, Yu TS, Jeong YJ (2004) Gluconacetobacterpersimmonis sp. nov., isolated from Korean traditional persimmon vinegar. J Microbiol Biotechnol 14:276–293

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshino T, Asakura T, Toda K (1996) Cellulose production by Acetobacter pasteurianus on silicone membrane. J Ferment Bioeng 91:32–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ARTES_Innovation for Sustainable Growth, Bologna, Italy

    L. Infelise

  2. Institute of Biopolymers and Chemical Fibres, Łódź, Poland

    J. Kazimierczak, J. Wietecha & E. Kopania

Authors
  1. L. Infelise
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Kazimierczak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Wietecha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. E. Kopania
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Infelise .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Engineering Department, Khalifa University, Masdar Campus, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Juan-Rodrigo Bastidas-Oyanedel

  2. SDU-Department of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, and Environmental Technology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, United Arab Emirates

    Jens Ejbye Schmidt

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Infelise, L., Kazimierczak, J., Wietecha, J., Kopania, E. (2019). GINEXTRA®: A Small-Scale Multipurpose Modular and Integrated Biorefinery Technology. In: Bastidas-Oyanedel, JR., Schmidt, J. (eds) Biorefinery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10961-5_25

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10961-5_25

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-10960-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-10961-5

  • eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation