In the 1st picture from left to right: Marco Metter, Michael Senn, Lya Siegenthaler and
Ralph Häuselmann – Corporate Technology, Stellar project team at Bühler. Picture 2nd: Dr. Iris Haberkorn, Project Lead “Urban Microalgae Protein” Project SEC,
with microalgae flask.
Uzwil (Switzerland), Singapore (Singapore), August 31, 2022 – Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC) and Swiss Bühler Group announce the deployment of Bühler’s state-of-the-art Stellar Gemini system at SEC’s Urban Microalgae Protein project laboratory in Singapore. The Stellar technology, a world first developed by Bühler, is based on nanosecond pulsed electric fields. It will be used to increase the efficiency of microalgae processing. With its installation, the Urban Microalgae Protein project reaches a new milestone.
The SEC’s Urban Microalgae Protein project aims to develop a sustainable, urban single-cell protein production platform and microalgae-based food concepts with taste and nutrition profiles that meet consumer preferences.
This three-year project is based in Singapore, and is supported by the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF) under its Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) program.
“The Stellar technology will enable us to deliver industry relevant results to improve the eco-efficiency and productivity of microalgae supply chains by establishing a pulsed electric field (PEF)-based biorefinery as part of the Urban Microalgae Protein project,” says Dr Iris Haberkorn, project lead and senior scientist at SEC.
The first of its kind, Stellar technology uses nanosecond pulsed electric field processing to grow single-cell cultures, like microalgae, at a faster rate without biologically altering them. Stellar Gemini is the name of the device that enables the application of these pulses.
“The installed Stellar Gemini system enables application development and initial scale-up to pilot scale on a flexible and easy-to-use platform. Operators have access to Bühler's extensive know-how while having full flexibility for independent application development, ensuring maximum efficiency in process development,” says Dr. Leandro Buchmann, Project Manager Bioprocessing at Bühler.
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