EBNet carries out a range of activities and events. This section details outcomes of our funding awards. If you are interested in participating in one of our working groups, check them out here or if your area of interest is not covered, get in touch.
Details of our Proof of Concept (POC) projects, Business Interaction Vouchers (BIV) and associated outputs can be found below.
POC 2024 Call – Funded Projects
- Elucidating mechanisms of bacterial adsorption to biochar by 3D X-ray image analysis – Dr Meredith Rose Barr, London South Bank University
- Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations for assessing biodegradation of PFAS – Dr Tao Lyu, Cranfield University
POC 2023 Call – Funded Projects
- Simultaneous Bioremediation of Nutrient Pollution and Carbon Fixation Through a Novel, Integrated Anammox and Acetogens-Based Bio-Electrochemical System – Dr Ahsan Islam, University of Loughborough
Publicly available summaries for POC projects awarded in 2023 are available here.
POC 2022 Call – Funded Projects
- Mitigating N2O emission from wastewater treatment processes – Dr Bing Guo, University of Surrey
- Pure biomethane – rather than biogas – from a single waste stream – Dr Elizabeth Heidrich, Newcastle University
- CRISPR/Cas-enabled paper-based sensors for rapid monitoring of antimicrobial resistance – Dr Zhugen Yang, Cranfield University
Publicly available summaries for all POC projects awarded in 2022 are available here.
POC 2021 Call – Funded Projects
- Faecal pollution source tracking and quantitative microbial risk assessment methods for a suitcase laboratory – Dr David Werner, Newcastle University
- Bio-engineering of water biofilter communities for enhanced degradation of DOM – Dr Marta Vignola, University of Glasgow
- Real time monitoring of Anaerobic Digestion microbial community as a foaming risk prediction method – Dr Dana Ofiteru, Newcastle University
- Fluorescent Microbiofilter Assay for Rapid Real-time Monitoring of Organic Micropollutants Biodegradation – Dr Caroline Gauchotte-Lindsay, University of Glasgow
Publicly available summaries for all POC projects awarded in 2021 are available here.
POC 2020 Call – Funded Projects
- Enhancing PFASs Attenuation in Coastal brownfield Soils (EPACS): enhancing natural system attenuation capacity for a key emerging contaminant – Professor Andy Cundy, University of Southampton
- Bio-engineering of biochar for enhanced remediation of contaminated land – Dr Tony Gutierrez, Heriot Watt University
- Fibre Highways: translocation of the microbiome for pollutant bioremediation – Dr Angela Sherry, Northumbria University
- Development of a monooxygenase gene-based assay to characterise 1,4-dioxane bioremediation potential – Dr Simon Gregory, British Geological Survey
Publicly available summaries for all POC projects awarded in 2020 are available here.
BIV 2024 Call – Funded Projects
- Feasibility study for the recovery of precious metals from incinerated bottom ash (IBA) using bioleaching technology – Professor Sebastien Farnaud, Coventry University / Fortis IBA Ltd.
- Improving the accuracy, reliability and user experience of low-flow gas meters for research and development in anaerobic digestion and biotechnological processes – Dr Mark Walker, University of Hull / CJC Labs Ltd
BIV 2021 Call – Funded Projects
- Bioleaching application for the recovery of Minor and Rare Earth Metals from Complex Nickel Alloys Dust – Professor Sebastien Farnaud, Coventry University / Advanced Alloy Services Ltd.
- Sludge dewaterability: improved tools for the emerging biotech industries, Dr Yue Zhang, University of Southampton / Triton Electronics Ltd.
Publicly available information for all BIV projects awarded in 2021 are available here.
BIV 2020 Call – Funded Projects
The following projects have been awarded funding in our EB Network BIV2020 Call.
- Determination of microbial communities of laboratory anaerobic digestion tanks and impact of the CreChar additive on the microbial community dynamics – Prof James Chong, University of York/Dr Adam Ostrowski, Carbogenics Ltd
- Understanding anaerobic biodegrability of organic menstrual care products: technical feasibility and sector receptivity – Dr Yadira Bajon Fernandez, Cranfield University/Kimberley Dobney, Turn and Flow
- Meeting the nutrient neutrality challenge using newly developed biological technology – Dr Yonqiang Liu, University of Southampton/Adam White, Plantwork Systems Ltd
Publicly available information for all BIV projects awarded in 2020 are available here.
EBNet BIV & POC project dissemination
POC Dissemination
CRISPR-enabled sensors for rapid monitoring of environmental contaminants By: Wang, Y., Pan, Y., Han, W., Rossi, C.S., Hui, Q., Guo, Y., Owoseni, M.C., McAdam, E., Yong, Y.C., Wang, B. and Yang, Z., 2024. In: TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, p.118128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2024.118128 [Dr Zhugen Yang, Cranfield University, POC202214]
Targeted Enrichment of Nucleic Acid Bionic Arms Enhances the Hydrolysis Activity of Nanozymes for Degradation and Real-Time Monitoring of Organophosphorus Pesticides in Water By: Zhou, J., Xiong, D., Zhang, H., Xiao, J., Huang, R., Qiao, Z., Yang, Z. and Zhang, Z., 2025. In: Environmental Science & Technology. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c13849 [Dr Zhugen Yang, Cranfield University, POC202214]
Progresses and challenges of engineering thermophilic acetogenic cell factories By: Bourgade, B. and Islam, M.A., 2024. In: Frontiers in Microbiology, 15, p.1476253. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1476253 [Dr Ahsan Islam, University of Loughborough, POC202311]
“Challenges and opportunities for low-carbon remediation in the Niger Delta: towards sustainable environmental management” By: Azuazu, I.N., Sam, K., Campo, P. and Coulon, F., 2023. In: Science of the Total Environment, p.165739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165739 [Dr Tony Gutierrez, Heriot-Watt University, POC202008]
Efficacy of bioamendments in reducing the influence of salinity on the bioremediation of oil-contaminated soil. By: Atai, E., Jumbo, R.B., Cowley, T., Azuazu, I., Coulon, F. and Pawlett, M., 2023. In: Science of the Total Environment, 892, p.164720. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164720 [Dr Tony Gutierrez, Heriot-Watt University, POC202008]
Bioengineering remediation of former industrial sites contaminated with chemical mixtures. By: Atai, E., Jumbo, R.B., Andrews, R., Cowley, T., Azuazu, I., Coulon, F. and Pawlett, M., 2023. In: Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, 10, p.100319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2023.100319 [Dr Tony Gutierrez, Heriot-Watt University, POC202008]
Evaluating different soil amendments as bioremediation strategy for wetland soil contaminated by crude oil.By: Jumbo, R.B., Coulon, F., Cowley, T., Azuazu, I., Atai, E., Bortone, I. and Jiang, Y., 2022. In: Sustainability, 14(24), p.16568. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416568 [Dr Tony Gutierrez, Heriot-Watt University, POC202008]
Microbial Stratification and DOM Removal in Drinking Water Biofilters: Implications for Enhanced Performance. By: Xiang Shi, Ryan Pereira, Uzma, Laurie Savage, Baptiste Poursat, Dominic Quinn, Anastasiia Kostrytsia, Fabien Cholet, Cindy J Smith, Caroline Gauchotte-Lindsay, William T. Sloan, Umer Ijaz, Marta Vignola. In: Water Research. Available online 5 July 2024, 122053[Dr Marta Vignola, University of Glasgow, POC202106]
BODIPY-labeled estrogens for fluorescence analysis of environmental microbial degradation. By: Felion, C., Lopez-Gonzalez, R., Sewell, A. L., Marquez, R. and Gauchotte-Lindsay, C. In: ACS Omega, 7(45), pp. 41284-41295. (doi: 10.1021/acsomega.2c05002) (PMID:36406552). [Dr Caroline Gauchotte-Lindsay, University of Glasgow, POC202113]
Biohybrids: textile fibres provide scaffolds and highways for microbial translocation. By: Angela Sherry, Bruna Martins Dell’ Agnese, Jane Scott. In: Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1188965. [Dr Angela Sherry, Northumbria University, Dr Jane Scott, Newcastle University, POC202015]
Environmental DNA clarifies impacts of combined sewer overflows on the bacteriology of an urban river and resulting risks to public health. By: Rixia Zan, Adrian Blackburn, Jidapa Plaimart, Kishor Acharya, Claire Walsh, Ross Stirling, Chris G. Kilsby, David Werner. In: Science of The Total Environment. Volume 889, 1 September 2023, 164282 [Professor David Werner, Newcastle University, POC202101].
Scientists examine whether microbes can clean up contaminated land, Aberdeen Evening Express, 15/01/21. Further articles in The Scottish Farmer (21/01/21), The Courier (15/01/21), The Herald (15/01/21) and STV News (15/01/21). Also, see the Heriot-Watt website. [Dr Tony Gutierrez, Heriot Watt University, POC202008].
EBNet grant success for Fibre Highways: translocation of the microbiome for pollutant bioremediation and Fibre highways for microbial travel Biotechnology in the Built Environment website, 22/10/20. Fibre Highways YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/vRs8D4A4J9M [Dr Angela Sherry, Northumbria University, Dr Jane Scott, Newcastle University, POC202015]
British Geological Survey partner with Arcadis in research programme to support brownfield development, BGS website press release, 15/10/20, [Dr Simon Gregory, British Geological Survey, POC202029] .
BIV Dissemination
“Temperature Effects of MD on Municipal Wastewater Treatment in an Integrated Forward Osmosis and Membrane Distillation Process“. By: Almoalimi, K.; Liu, Y.-Q.; Booth, A.; Heo, S. In: Processes 2022, 10, 355. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr10020355 [Dr Yong-Qiang Liu, University of Southampton, BIV202004]
“An exploratory study of the impact and potential of menstrual hygiene management waste in the UK“. By: L.A.G. Blair, Y. Bajón -Fernández, R. Villa. In: Cleaner Engineering and Technology. Volume 7, April 2022, 100435 [Dr Yadira Bajon Fernandez, Cranfield University, BIV202002]
A comprehensive comparison of microbial communities between aerobic granular sludge and flocculent sludge for nutrient removal in full-scale wastewater treatment plants By: Pincam, T., Liu, Y.Q., Booth, A., Wang, Y., Lan, G. and Zeng, P., 2024. In: Chemosphere, p.142644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142644 [Dr YongQiang Liu, University of Southampton, BIV202004]
Hydroxyapatite precipitation and accumulation in granules and its effects on activity and stability of partial nitrifying granules at moderate and high temperatures By: Liu, Y.Q. and Cinquepalmi, S., 2021. In: Processes, 9(10), p.1710. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/9/10/1710 [Dr Yong-Qiang Liu, University of Southampton, BIV202004]
Viewing menstrual waste as a resource, Turn and Flow blog with Dr Yadira Bajon Fernandez, Cranfield University [BIV202002].