Waste Processing & Conversion

A synthetic biology perspective

A subset of SynBio - waste processing & conversion related patents were identified during the hybrid topic modelling stage applied to SynBio EPO patents. The publication year trends are shown in figure .1, together with the subset related to waste processing and conversion for biofuels. Publication trends discussed below are based on EP A1/A2 applications.

In figure .1, the peak publication figures for SynBio waste processing and conversion occurred in 2012 (372 publications), declining since and stabilising around 2019. A recent 18.3% increase year-on-year occurred in 2023 (265 publications), the highest figure since 2017. The biofuel specific subset related to waste processing and conversion also peaked in 2012 (342 publications), recently increasing by 19.1% year-on-year in 2023. Overall, non-biofuel related publications accounted for only 15.6% of the total waste related published applications identified during 2004-2023. However, the non-biofuel proportion has increased to 27.2% in 2023, a trend which has been growing since 2015. The recent evidence suggests innovation of waste processing and conversion for high-value compounds and materials outside of biofuels is increasing.

The INPADOC legal status breakdown of the waste processing and conversion subset published during 2014-2023 is shown in figure .2.

The INPADOC based legal status stats in figure .2 revealed 34.7% of patents have lapsed and 30.2% are granted, the data suggests the waste processing and conversion field is well established. However, there is further evidence of a slowdown in patenting activity with only 33% of patents currently pending.

Publication year subtrends

The overall waste processing and conversion publication year trendline has declined since peak activity in 2012, four further areas within the waste processing and conversion related subset were analysed for evidence of growth areas, using specific classification codes as shown in figure .3.

The subtrends reveal how biomass processing has been an important source of waste material for producing biofuels which peaked in 2012 (305 publications), declining since and stabilising around 2018. The resurgence in 2023 (153 publications) represents a 11.7% increase year-on-year, the highest figure since 2018. Both enzyme related and ethanol related publications in the waste processing and conversion subset have lagged behind their peak levels, there is increased activity in 2023 which has also contributed to the increase in biomass processing (enzymes to breakdown biomass / ethanol produced). The use of genetically modified microorganisms in waste processing and conversion has been consistent but lags behind the peak in 2011 (47 publications).

The filing trends for the waste processing and conversion subset and subtrend areas are shown in figure .4. Here we explore the filing or application date of published applications, data is restricted to 2021 due to the potential for an 18 month delay between filing and publication.

In figure .4 there was resurgent growth for SynBio Waste processing and conversion filings, which increased by 27.4% in 2021, similarly the biofuels from waste subset also increased by 26% in 2021, year-on-year. Overall, non-biofuel related filings accounted for only 14.6% of the total waste processing and conversion filings identified during 2004-2021. However, the non-biofuel proportion has increased to 26.7% in 2021. There is further evidence the innovation of high-value compounds and materials derived from waste and used outside of biofuels is increasing, based on recent trends.

The distribution of top 20 CPC classifications is skewed towards biofuel technologies using waste processing and conversion. In 2023 biofuels from waste (Y02E50/30) recorded it’s highest publication figure (108 publications) since 2018. There is solid growth for the use of biomass in 2023 (52 publications) via destructive distillation of cellulose containing material (C10B53/02), the highest figures since 2014.

Recent evidence indicates an increasing trend for waste processing innovation in areas outside of biofuels. For example, bacteria and culture media (C12N1/20) has peaked in 2023 (34 publications) when contrasting figures from the prior decade. The specialist class (Y02P20/145) related to chemical industry feedstock using material from a biological origin, achieved it highest annual publication figure in 2023 since 2014. Animal feed from fermenting natural products such as cellulose (A23K10/12) has consistent publication figures since 2018.

Growing areas within SynBio - waste processing & conversion: compound annual growth rate (CAGR)

The SynBio waste processing and conversion related CPC classifications were further investigated to identify areas with a positive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to identify trending areas, shown in figure .6. The selected classes have a cumulative total above 50 publications during the publication period and are relevant for SynBio subject matter.

  • Biofuel subject matter
    Hydrocarbon processing from waste materials has grown at almost 17% CAGR, cellulosic waste is an important substrate evidenced by the growth of macromolecular compounds derived from lignocellulosic materials (C08H8/00) at 3.5% CAGR. The production of synthetic natural gas from waste has grown at a conservative 1.5% CAGR during the publication period 2014-23. The growth in biofuels from waste is unsurprising given a recent International Energy Agency (IEA) report which highlighted that waste and residues are expected to account for 13% of biofuel production in 2027, increasing from 9% in 2027.

  • Biological related subject matter
    Synthetic biology technologies are increasingly adapted to design specific food ingredients such as high value proteins and enhance the scope of feedstocks, even extracting microbial biomass from nonfood feedstocks such as methanol. Our analysis identified a variety of growing classification areas related to animal feed, food compositions & ingredients and the recovery of fats all using waste feedstocks with 2-11% CAGR. Organic fertilisers enhanced with bacterial cultures, mycelia, etc. are growing with a solid CAGR of 12%.

  • Fuel related subject matter
    Solid fuels from wood or forestry waste have experienced low growth at 0.7% CAGR during 2014-2023. This fuel source offers cleaner alternatives to coal and reduces the amount of waste which may be otherwise sent to landfill, etc. plus has arguably greater sustainability potential via replanting trees.

  • Carbon capture
    The niche area of capture or disposal of CO2 (Y02C20/40) grew at 5.8% CAGR during 2014-23 which encompasses methods via living cells, industrial processes, etc. Many of the waste processing technologies identified in our analysis utilises microorganisms, for example, fungi (C12N1/14) has grown at 9.5% CAGR. Recent research has identified how SynBio advances can reduce CO2 emissions and unleash the potential of microorganisms as cell factories for carbon capture.

Growing areas within SynBio - waste processing & conversion: average growth rate

The average number of publications during two 5 year publication periods; 2014-18 & 2019-23 are contrasted in figure .7. CPC classification codes within the waste processing & conversion field, related to SynBio and with sufficient publication totals are analysed.

Bacteria and culture media has increased from 21 to 27 publications per year on average during 2019-23, bacterial isolates have also increased during this period (12 publications per year on average). A variety of animal feed and food related classifications have all experienced growth, including animal feed derived from plant or fungal origin; growing from 12 to 17 publications on average per year. Patents related to bio-packaging and plastic and rubber recycling had 5 publications on average per year during 2019-2023 related to waste processing.

Overall, our analysis has shown that biofuel technologies are key areas for processing and converting waste, for example ethanol from cellulosic biomass. However, in recent times SynBio technologies are also active in areas such as food, fertilisers, specialised fuels, biopackaging and plastics recycling, amongst others, with patenting levels increasing. It is encouraging to learn the use of microorganisms for diverse applications within the waste processing field is also increasing, powered by fungi and bacteria species. Synthetic biology is enabling multiple solutions for the valorisation of waste materials, developed into chemicals, foods and products, etc.

SynBio waste processing & conversion: top 30 applicants

The total number of publications for the top 30 SynBio waste processing & conversion applicants are shown in figure .8, contrasting the overall publication period (2004-23) with a more recent perspective during 2014-2023.