Biorefining processing of sea buckthorn vegetative biomass using innovative technologies and comprehensive analytical research to obtain promising products with high added value for the Latvian bioeconomy, including serotonin

The aim of the project is to offer a zero-residue innovative technology that will ensure the use of all the unique set of biologically active compounds of sea buckthorn vegetative biomass, in the form of extracts, individual compounds (serotonin, proanthocyanidins) and solid granular complexes, they will be valuable for the national bioeconomy and various segments of international markets.

Main acitivities:

1. Industrial research for the preparation of a feasibility study report on the importance of SBT varieties and prospects for their cultivation in the Baltic region (Partner involved - SIA "EkoKompozit");
2. Development of directions for efficient, high-added-value and large-scale use of sea buckthorn without fruit biomass, such as leaves and branches (Partner involved - SIA "EkoKompozit");
3. Industrial studies on the use of ozone-safe freon HFC R134a as a solvent for the extraction of lipophilic compounds from the biomass of the vegetative parts of sea buckthorn and as a means for the purification of hydrophilic serotonin-enriched extracts (Partner involved - SIA "EkoKompozit");
4. Fractional extraction of biologically active compounds from different vegetative parts of selected varieties of sea buckthorn for their comprehensive analysis and assessment of valorization prospects    
5. Characterization of biological activity of extracts and granulated solid lignocellulosic SBT biomass with an emphasis on further use (Partner involved - SIA "EkoKompozit");
6. Generalization of the results obtained in the project and necessary product analyzes for their certification (Partner involved - SIA "EkoKompozit").

Project implementation period: 36 months

Project total funding: total costs: 645000.00 EUR, public funding: 596625.00 EUR (92.5%), co-funding: 48375.00 EUR (7,5%).