Open-minded research gives birth to pioneering ideas, such as water purification with recyclable biomaterials. Responding to the growing demand for circular economy solutions, the research-based spin-off company BioSO4 already became profitable after its first year of operation.
Lasse Moilanen and Janne Kankkunen from BioSO4 are pleased with the research services they’ve commissioned from the School of Pharmacy’s Water Chemistry Laboratory.
“The circular economy is already happening. Companies are interested in less or zero waste and in the recyclability and commercialisation of side streams, regardless of their operating sector. The increasing raw material demand and use is also a factor,” says Janne Kankkunen, chair of the BioS04 board.
“It has been rewarding to see to how many companies are ready to seize these innovations.”
BioS04 offers a unique patented biopolymer-based method for removing sulphate from various waters, including those of mines as well as industrial and energy plants. With the biopolymer adsorbent, even high sulphate concentrations can be efficiently lowered to drinking water level. The sulphate can be recycled in fertilisers, for example, as can the biopolymer after multiple reuses.
One component of the biopolymer is modified chitosan, a common organic compound derived from discarded crayfish cells, which are globally in ample supply.
“Our biopolymers are also produced with zero waste,” notes Lasse Moilanen, CEO of BioSO4.
The innovation originates from Kankkunen’s long-term collaboration in the development of bio-based adsorption materials with the co-founders of the company, Professor Jouko Vepsäläinen and Researcher Juha-Matti Aalto from the University of Eastern Finland’s School of Pharmacy. Mining companies and Savonia University of Applied Sciences, SUAS, have also been involved in piloting the method on its way to commercialisation.
“There is an atmosphere of open-minded multidiscipilinarity at UEF that facilitates innovations. Pharmaceutical chemistry can offer completely new ideas for water purification,” Moilanen says.
One such idea is the use of bisphosphonates, compounds familiar from osteoporosis medications, in water purification. Vepsäläinen’s research group has developed a highly selective method for the removal or recovery of heavy metals from water, based on a solid bisphosphonate material that collects metal ions directly from the solution. Unlike traditional methods, the collector can recover metals occurring even in very small concentrations. The patented invention was first introduced commercially by the company Chemec, but BioSO4 has recently acquired it as part of its product range.
Founded in 2017, BioSO4 now employs two people, has a growing customer base and already turned profitable after its first year.
“Close collaboration continues between UEF and SUAS. We use the university’s laboratories for water analysis, and researchers are involved in solving customer problems. We are also planning to commercialise several bio-based adsorbents in the next few years,” Moilanen says.