BOLTS - Bioprocessing

Project Background

Discovering new ways of recycling waste aircraft oils and lubricants is critical to supporting the government's drive to achieve Net Zero by 2050. In December 2019, we were awarded a share of £1 million from The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) to develop new technology that turns waste hydrocarbons from RAF aircraft into recyclable byproducts, such as water and organic residue for fertilisers, whilst capturing the CO₂ given off by the treatment process.

Our Solution

We initially leveraged our relationship with Northumbria University to conduct lab-based investigations. These investigations resulted in the designing and building of a micro-scale treatment system at our facility in North Tyneside.

The final solution effectively degrades diverse hydrocarbon wastes, leaving minimal residue and offering the potential to form an ecological succession. It can adapt to mixed and potentially unknown waste compositions. We also designed the system for ease of operation and maintenance.  

Outcomes

Implementing the treatment system at scale provides a significant improvement to the way the RAF currently manages waste. The innovations developed through this project provide a platform so we can develop deployable bioprocessors that could be used across military or international relief operations. As well as protecting the environment, the technology can save money for the military - and the taxpayer - in waste charges.

Our experience and expertise in environmental engineering and project management meant that we were able to:

• Successfully achieve DASA's objectives
• Prove the viability of our solution
• Deliver the project on time and on budget despite the COVID-19 pandemic

We are now in the process of developing the technology further with the team at RAF Brize Norton.