Associated Research Groups
Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology and Biocatalysis (LIMAB)
Department of Biochemical and Microbial TechnologyFaculty of Bioscience Engineering
Ghent University
Blok B, 2nd floor
Coupure links 653
9000 Ghent
Belgium
Tel: +32 9 264 6033
Fax: +32 9 264 6231
Contact:
White Biotechnology
The Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (LIMAB) is specialised in the field of industrial biotechnology. Industrial Biotechnology, or white biotechnology is the application of biotechnology for the industrial production and processing of chemical substances, materials and bio-energy. Industrial microbiology mainly uses micro-organisms and their enzymes to make useful products, such as bulk and fine chemicals, food ingredients, pharmaceutical ingredients, new fibers, bio-degradable plastics and bio-fuels. It relies on the use of renewable resources as raw materials and as such, it can reduce our dependency on increasingly expensive petroleum, contribute to attaining the Kyoto objectives by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and provide significant support for European agriculture by creating new markets for agricultural commodities. Ethanol and biodiesel, for example, are renewable fuels made out of biomass, and have great potential to replace fossil fuels. This will have a positive impact on greenhouse gas emissions, and can contribute to reducing global warming.
Bio-Energy Research
Research at the laboratory focuses on the microbial synthesis of fine and bulk chemicals and enzymes through fermentation and biocatalytic processes. This includes screening for new microbial production strains, the development and optimisation of fermentation processes, metabolic engineering, genetic engineering for the improvement of production strains as well as down-stream processing for the isolation and purification of bio-products. The laboratory can look back at many years of close collaboration with the industry.
In the field of bio-energy, the research is actively focused on developing new industrial processes, which directly or indirectly facilitate the production of liquid biofuels. New methods for the production of biodiesel from a variety of oil sources are currently being developed in collaboration with other pioneering laboratories. We are also active in the field of bio-ethanol production and are examining possibilities for new processes that utilise lignocellulosic feedstocks from a variety of sources.
The laboratory is a founding member of the private / public partnership Ghent Bio-Energy Valley, and actively stimulates and supports industrial projects in the bio-energy field. LIMAB aims to build up a strong knowledge and infrastructure capable of developing and supporting further the bio-energy industry.
Within the University of Ghent, the laboratory also acts as a coordinator for the bio-energy cluster. The bio-energy cluster of laboratories aims to promote technological innovation through joint and coordinated R&D projects to develop new technology and to introduce innovations into the market.