iCRAB and Beyond

Integrated Chitin and Ryegrass Acid Biorefinery (iCRAB) and Beyond

A 2015-2016 Innovate UK joint-supported project in collaboration with Aberystwyth University’s Biorefining Centre of Excellence at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) and Bangor University’s BioProducts and BioRefining -Technology Transfer Centre (BPR-TTC), which were both part of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)-supported BEACON biorefining initiative provided the foundations for Pennotec to develop its unique, integrated biorefinery technology for chitin and co-product production from crustacean shellfish shell by-product.

Since iCRAB, Pennotec has tirelessly worked to tackle techno-economic and market development challenges, often in collaboration with UK universities, the fishing industry and value chain partners on both sides of the Atlantic. Pennotec now has a viable technology, producing chitosan and co-products from UK shellfish and other animal and vegetable sources and, through sister company Pennosan Ltd., is developing the market for chitosans using innovative formulation technologies.