Dr Eve Wildman , founder and chief technology officer of Ripcell , shares the story of how a start-up is sourcing biochemicals from the effluent of the whisky industry
BIOBASED CHEMICALS
From whisky to chemicals
Dr Eve Wildman , founder and chief technology officer of Ripcell , shares the story of how a start-up is sourcing biochemicals from the effluent of the whisky industry
Whisky is one of Scotland ’ s best-known products around the world and a major export . However , the whisky industry generates substantial effluent and wastewater during its production processes , posing significant environmental challenges .
The effluent , which is often rich in organic material , spent grains and chemicals from the distillation process , can lead to high biological and chemical oxygen demand in nearby water bodies if not properly treated . This can deplete oxygen levels in water , harming aquatic life and disrupting ecosystems .
Additionally , the wastewater can contain residues of fermentation by-products , cleaning agents and other contaminants . To mitigate these impacts , whisky distilleries are increasingly adopting advanced wastewater treatment technologies such as anaerobic digestion , which reduces pollutant levels and also generates biogas for energy use .
How it began
I originally carried out research to develop a cost-effective method for recycling lithium-ion batteries and did not anticipate the journey taking me on a tour of Scotland ’ s whisky heartlands . However , work with distilleries in Speyside ( known as ‘ Malt Whisky Country ’ and home to more distilleries than any other part of Scotland ) established that their effluent contains a complex mix of valuable biochemicals .
Ripcell was founded in 2021 , receiving grant funding from the Scottish government in 2022 . The funding allowed us to complete the Waste2Value pilot project and build
The Ripcell team , from left : Dr Eve Wildman ( founder / CTO ), John Wildman ( CEO ), Paul Wright ( CFO ), Susan Brench ( adviseor to the Board )
a team with a wealth of technocommercial experience .
The company has patented a process that allows for a drop-in solution on operational distillery sites where industry feedstock is processed under a high-pressure membrane with a re-circulation loop installed . Once sufficient de-watering has taken place onsite , the residual volume is ready to enter a two-step distillation process , which is tailored to be as energyefficient as possible by employing low temperatures for the majority of the thermodynamic extraction .
Commercialised scale-up is planned for seven flagship sites in Scotland , which will produce 300 million litres of clean water for collaborating sites , feedstock for biogas plants and 2,000 tonnes / year of premium-grade biochemicals to enter high value
SEP / OCT 2024 SPECCHEMONLINE . COM
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