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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/N508950/1
Title: Recovering and processing of high value food and pharmaceutical ingredients from waste egg shells
Principal Investigator: Perry, Professor C
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: School of Science & Technology
Organisation: Nottingham Trent University
Scheme: Technology Programme
Starts: 31 January 2016 Ends: 31 December 2017 Value (£): 147,204
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Food processing Manufacturing Machine & Plant
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing Food and Drink
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Nottingham Trent University (NTU)'s contributions will reflect its expertise in the chemical and biological analysis of

materials at all stages of the process. The research facilities of the Prof. Carole Perry's Biomolecular & Materials Interface

Research Group will be utilised in addition to the facilities within the School of Science and Technology to support the

development of the materials for commercial exploitation. As required, materials will be analysed to ensure that they meet

the requirements for proposed pharmaceutical and healthcare applications (e.g. British Pharmacopeia).

Material Collection and Pre-Processing

1. Evaluation/development of continuous collection methodologies, including:

Determination of variation in process critical factors such as organic content, water content, albumin and yolk

contamination of collected material, particle sizing.

Optimise transit and pre-processing stabilisation of raw material (storage time limits, temperature limits, concentration of

storage solution).

2. Evaluation/development of initial processing approaches:

Determine particle sizing resulting from different milling parameters (time, initial water content, milling speed) and develop

optimised milling parameters and QC methodology.

Determine powder properties resulting from different drying parameters (time, initial water content, drying speed) and develop optimised drying parameters and QC methodology.

Determine and check specification of processing raw materials e.g. site water supply, base and alcohol (trace metals

content, elemental profile and purity) and develop QC methodology for raw materials.

Analytical services to determine effectiveness of initial processing output (testing to British Pharmacopeia grade CaCO3).

Primary Processing

Iterative evaluation of different continuous processing approaches, conditions and materials

3. Evaluation of the influence of processing variables on process output:

Process; NaOH concentration, alcohol concentration/type (ethanol or isopropanol), position of milling in process (before,

during or after).

Process conditions; temperature, volume of treatment: mass of feed material ratio, time and mixing rate.

Materials; continuous monitoring of starting materials and end product in relation to the desired specification (testing to

British Pharmacopeia grade CaCO3). In addition intermediate stages in the process and the extent to which raw materials

can be recycled in the process will be monitored/evaluated as necessary.

QC methodology will be developed for the process.

Secondary Processing - Agglomeration

Iterative evaluation of different continuous agglomeration approaches

4. Evaluating the influence of processing variables on the agglomeration process:

Influence of processing on particle/agglomerate size including coating thickness and structure from the atomic

(crystallography) through to micro and macroscopic scales (microscopy) including particle and coating porosity.

Organic content of particles, influence on formulation pH and general composition (chemical and elemental [e.g. Fe, Al, Pb,

As, Cd, Hg and total heavy metals] analysis, purity of calcium carbonate, moisture content) using relevant analytical,

microscopic and spectroscopy methods.

Determine material compliance to any relevant regulatory standards pre and post-agglomeration.

Comparative studies will be conducted with at least 3 competitor materials.

Combination of process steps to demonstrate process complementarity

NTU will support AvGo in evaluating the process developed to date though analytical testing of product output to check

conformity, e.g. testing to British Pharmacopeia grade CaCO3, and providing guidance in the event of any compliance

issues detected.

NTU will also assist in consolidation of process operations, evaluating opportunities to file for new intellectual property and

composition of the final project report.
Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Impacts
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Summary
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Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.ntu.ac.uk