TECH OFFERS

We have developed a variety of keratin templates for the healthcare sector namely sponges as tissue fillers, gels for wound healing, sutures and films as cell carriers. These keratin templates can be derived from keratinous wastes such as human hair and chicken feathers, which currently do not have significant commercial value and contribute to environmental pollution through disposal via incineration or landfills. Our technology involves the extraction of keratins from the organic waste streams mentioned, and fabricating various forms using solubilized keratins as the raw material. These materials have been shown to be cell compatible and evoke minimal host tissue response in animal studies. The templates we have developed represent a new class of alternative biomaterials which are functional and sustainable.  Keratin templates, derived from hair and feathers, exhibit a remarkable capability to tailor their mechanical properties, making them highly adaptable for various biomedical applications. These templates serve as promising scaffolds due to their tunable nature, allowing for the creation of structures with desired mechanical characteristics, crucial for supporting tissue regeneration and repair. In vitro studies have demonstrated the efficacy of these keratin templates by revealing robust cell proliferation and metabolic activity. Such findings underscore their compatibility with biological systems, indicating their potential for promoting tissue growth and regeneration. Furthermore, in vivo studies have provided encouraging results, showing no signs of acute inflammation and minimal host tissue response upon implantation. This suggests the biocompatibility of keratin templates, which is essential for their successful integration into living organisms. Moreover, the biodegradability of keratin templates enhances their appeal for biomedical applications, ensuring that they degrade naturally over time without causing harm or leaving behind residue. Overall, the versatility, biocompatibility, and biodegradability of keratin templates derived from hair and feathers make them promising candidates for a wide range of biomedical applications, offering hope for advancements in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine Sponges as tissue fillers : These sponges are flexible, stable and degrade slowly through enzymatic digestion, hence making them suitable for use as tissue fillers. Gels for wound healing: These gels are stable and have a gradient structure which mimics the native skin structure. Antimicrobial elements can be incorporated, enhancing their suitability for wound healing applications. Fibers as sutures: These fibers are flexible, stable and degradable over time in vivo, hence making them an alternative absorbable suture that is made from renewal and sustainable raw materials. Films as cell carriers: These films are cell compatible and can be surface functionalized to enhance cell response. These materials provide a significant waste valorisation potential, and have been shown to be cell compatible and evoke minimal host tissue response in animal studies. They have excellent biological properties of keratins which makes it suitable for several biomedical applications. The technology provider is able  to produce a variety of keratin templates which can be produced for various application.  circular economy, biocompatible, biodegradable, sponges, gels, fibres, films, keratin Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals & Therapeutics, Life Sciences, Industrial Biotech Methods & Processes, Sustainability, Circular Economy

Only 20% of actual coffee is extracted from beans to produce coffee in its beverage form, leaving the remaining 80% (six million tons annually) deemed as spent coffee grounds (SCG) to be disposed or used in landfills or as non-food product components to make fertilisers, furniture, deodorisers or skin care products. A technology was created to counteract SCG wastage and valorise it for human consumption. This particular invention comprises of methodologies to create two types of ingredients using leftover SCG - oil-grind and water-grind processed SCG. A simple, reproducible method of conching is employed to convert leftover SCG into smooth pastes, where specific conching parameters help refine the SCG to an acceptable particle size, eliminating grittiness in numerous valorised products similar to SCG. The product utilises common ingredients like oil and water to conche SCG with improved taste and textural properties. The shelf stability and nutritional composition (including caffeine) of the ingredients were also validated to ensure the food possessed good sensorial properties and are scale up ready. This technology increases SCG’s potential use as a versatile ingredient in different food applications. The technology provider is seeking off-takers from food manufacturers, food services industry, companies interested to valorise side streams to turn SCG into edible compounds. Technology Features: Uses reproducible method of conching into a functional ingredient with high insoluble dietary fibre (13g/100g) content. Fibre content is higher than instant coffee powder (<1g/100g) and coffee flavourings (0g/100g) and Lower caffeine levels (133mg/100g) compared to regular coffee (3600mg/100g) and is similar to decaffeinated beverages Sodium (<3mg/100g) and sugar free (<0.1g/100g)  Additive free (clean label) Specifications: SCG with particle size ranging between 4.82µm D(v,0.1) to 39.3 µm D[4,3] Moisture content 58.6% The technology was validated by incorporating SCG ingredients into a range of common food products such as beverages and ice cream (water-grind SCG), spreads and chocolate (oil-grind SCG) to help relevant food industries gain a deeper understanding of SCG valorisation, for a greater adoption among food manufacturers to create products using SCG. Can be developed into Ready-to-Drink (RTD) beverages, coffee ice cream, coffee spreads and confectionary (e.g. chocolates and cakes) Companies specialising in upcycling sidestreams and sustainability can explore this technology   Coffee consumption in Singapore increased by 4.8% in the last seven years with 105000, 60kg bags of coffee consumed in 2023 and the market is growing. There is a global push to reduce food side streams and Singapore's Zero Waste Masterplan on the treatment of such side streams by commercial and industrial generators, which aligns with the proposition of this technology. Similar technologies such as these may not be as cost effective. The technology uses basic ingredients such as water and oil and is easily reproducible. It does not involve high CAPEX investment or vigorous training processes that disrupts production process. Conching machines are commercially available, and the licensee can choose to purchase the equipment based on their production scale requirements. The conching process is easy to pick up. In addition, replacing coffee flavouring agents with SCG, customers can benefit from the natural and functional coffee flavour and caffeine SCG imparts into all the food applications. The product is rich in insoluble fibre which can help to regulate blood cholesterol and glucose levels. Caffeine is known to stimulate the Central Nervous System (CNS) in the body, which can improve cognitive abilities (e.g. alertness, reaction time). Coffee, Spent Coffee Grounds (SCG), valorisation, water-grind SCG, oil-grind SCG, scale-up, accelerated shelf-life evaluation, food safety and quality, food industries, technology adoption Foods, Ingredients, Processes, Waste Management & Recycling, Food & Agriculture Waste Management

The exponential growth of electronic waste (E-waste) generation is proliferating due to the ever-increasing demand for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) driven by industrial revolution and development. The COVID-19 crisis has further accelerated the shift towards digital transformation, contributing to an upsurge in E-waste generation. To-date, the industrial practices of extracting palladium (Pd) from electronic waste and mining ores rely on hydrometallurgy techniques using highly corrosive acids, typically aqua regia at elevated temperature. The process poses severe hazards to workers and lead to environmental pollution. Aqua regia’s capability to dissolve many various metals results in low selectivity for Pd. Despite ongoing efforts to develop alternative methods, these methods often prove impractical for industrial adoption. The technology provider has developed a proprietary lixiviant capable of extracting palladium up to 4,000 ppm at saturation with high extraction efficiency and selectivity within 12 hours. This lixiviant is facile, cost-effective, and significantly less corrosive and hazardous compared to current industrial practices. Substituting fuming aqua regia with this lixiviant could enhance the protection of workers and environmental safety. Importantly, the proposed technology is highly compatible with existing hydrometallurgy processes, eliminating the need for companies to change their current infrastructure. An E-waste industry partner has successfully conducted a pilot-scale (5-Litre scale) evaluation, validating the effectiveness and applicability of the lixiviant on their Pd-coated samples. The technology provider is actively seeking industry partners interested in test-bedding and licensing of this technology. Low cyanide concentration (< 50 ppm) stabilized in alkaline solution Optimal operating temperature of 90°C High selectivity (> 86%) and high extraction rate (> 86%) of palladium Cost-effective at ≤ USD 2.12/L extracting up to 4,000 ppm palladium at saturation within 12 hours Easy adoption and high compatibility with existing industrial hydrometallurgy systems Improve workplace safety and health which better protects workers and the environment Electronic wastes, such as Pd-coated connectors, Pd-coated wire bonding, etc. Pd-coated industrial wastes Recovered palladium can be further refined for resale and reuse In recent years, many countries have mandated environmental responsibilities to electronic manufacturers to establish producer recycling programs and ban E-waste disposal into landfills. E-waste contains precious metals, such as palladium, gold and silver that are highly sought-after by E-waste recycling companies due to their scarcity, high value and demand, and are actively traded as commodities over the last decades. The extraction of precious metals from E-waste is not only commercially attractive but also aligns with Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental, Social, and Governance goals for resource recovery and environmental protection. The global E-waste market size was valued at USD 52.6 billion in 2022 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.1% from 2022 to 2032, to reach USD 160.2 billion (Market.us, 2023). The proposed technology features a proprietary lixiviant capable of extracting palladium up to 4,000 ppm at saturation with a high extraction efficiency (≥ 89%) and high purity (≥ 92%). This cost-effective lixiviant is significantly less hazardous as compared to current industrial practices, thus better protecting workplace safety and health. Notably, the technology is compatible with existing hydrometallurgy processes and has been successfully verified at pilot-scale (5-Litre) in collaborating with an industry partner. Hydrometallurgy, palladium recovery, palladium extraction, palladium recycling, precious metal recovery, precious metal extraction, precious metal recycling, electronic waste (E-waste) recycling, electronic waste treatment Chemicals, Catalysts, Waste Management & Recycling, Industrial Waste Management

Electrolysis has diverse applications across various sectors, such as household and industrial electrolyzed water treatment, soda electrolysis, electrolytic plating, electrodeposition, and hydrogen generation. In electrolysis using insoluble electrodes, the electrocatalyst acting as the reaction field for the electrode reaction undergoes gradual abrasion. Given the high cost of precious metals (i.e., platinum group compounds) used as catalysts, protecting the catalyst and reducing the wear rate are crucial for extending the lifetime of electrodes and reducing the maintenance cost. Current technologies include multilayer electrodes that have a surface layer of noble metal oxide on the electrocatalyst to reduce catalyst wear. However, this method proves more expensive than ordinary insoluble electrodes. Additionally, the surface layer cannot be recoated. To address the challenge, the technology owner has developed a proprietary protective coating that effectively protects the catalyst on the surface of existing insoluble electrodes. This solution enables effective electrode protection through an inexpensive coating, reducing catalyst consumption and electrode replacement frequency. The coating can be reused by recoating the electrode, also contributing to the perspective of “Circular Economy”. The technology owner is seeking R&D collaboration with industrial partners such as electrode manufacturers, coating manufacturers, and companies utilising insoluble electrodes in electrolysis, especially electrolytic plating and metal recovery.  This unique coating, made of special silicone and conductive particles, can be applied to the catalyst surface and cured to reduce catalyst wear. Key features of this technology include: Improved electrode durability: double the replacement interval Excellent chemical resistance: capability to withstand harsh liquids such as strong acids and strong alkalis Optimal performance: good heat resistance, conductivity, and adhesion to the base material Efficient development: shorter development time and lower implementation cost compared to alternative methods such as electrolytic control and diamond coating Cost-effective solution: reduce maintenance cost and utilisation loss in the upstream process of electrolysis Circular economy contribution: reusable by recoating the electrode This technology can be used in handling harsh liquids such as strong acids and strong alkalis, addressing the challenge of electrode durability. It is mainly intended for the recovery of metals through electrolysis, especially targeting aqueous solutions containing metal ions. This is particularly useful for processes such as electrolytic plating and etching effluents in semiconductor manufacturing. In the future, the technology owner is also exploring the potential applications of this technology in water electrolysis electrodes and the use of conductive coatings beyond electrodes. Double the lifetime of the electrode using an inexpensive coating Can be reused by recoating the electrode Reduce the replacement frequency and maintenance cost Adaptable to existing coating (painting) facilities without modification Coatings, Electrode Catalyst, Electrolysis, Metal Recovery, electrolytic plating, recoating, reused Chemicals, Coatings & Paints, Manufacturing, Chemical Processes, Sustainability, Circular Economy