Congratulations to Dr Maria Ramos Suarez and co-Authors on the publication of a new paper on the implications of producing bio-based commodity chemicals from waste feedstocks for the selection and testing of bioreactor materials.
The paper identifies the top 10 commodity chemicals that can be derived from waste-related feedstocks in industrial and environmental biotechnology applications, and the range of bioreactor conditions likely to occur during their production. Potential concerns include abrasion, and the effects of microbially-influenced corrosion. When combined with the use of new, cheaper, and potentially less resistant tank materials, these factors may be problematic: especially where designers are under pressure to provide cost-effective options that can help low-margin products compete with those from fossil-based industries.
Dr Ramos Suarez said, “This is an important topic, given the potential size of markets for bio-products, and the anticipated expansion in demand for bioreactor tanks and equipment. Because waste-derived chemicals are key to building a more sustainable economy, a focused cross-sector effort to address these knowledge gaps is essential to make this emerging industry more robust and competitive. Solving these technical challenges will alleviate the risk of bioreactor material failures while supporting the long-term viability of the sector”.
The paper is based on work funded by EBNet and carried out with support from our Anaerobic Fermentation and Bioelectrochemical Systems WGs, as well as advice and inputs from EBNet industry collaborators. The original Report and Executive summary, which were embargoed while the paper was in preparation, will shortly be made available on the Resources page.
Meanwhile, since not everyone needs all the information in what can only be described as an epic read (a whopping 61 pages, with 267 references), the authors and their colleagues are working on short-format outputs summarising key findings and recommendations for industry and other interested parties. Get in touch if you are interested in contributing ideas; and watch out for more outcomes from this work soon!
Challenges and knowledge gaps in corrosion and materials degradation of bioreactors for waste feedstocks. Ramos-Suarez, M., Zhang, Y., Wharton, J. and Heaven, S., 2026. Discover Materials (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/ s43939-026-00698-0
