The research group Marine Biobased Specialties (MBBS) focuses on seeking, isolating, identifying and valorising chemical compounds from marine environments. Although oceans and seas cover more than 70% of the earth’s surface, many marine organisms have yet to be investigated.
The research group MBBS (led by Professor Dorien Derksen) comprises lecturers/researchers with broad, in-depth research backgrounds in Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry. The research group is based in Vlissingen, at HZ University of Applied Sciences, and has a designated laboratory with the requisite equipment. The team carries out practice-based research together with companies both within the Netherlands and around the world, as well as research institutions and students.
Bioprospecting
Some of these marine organisms can produce high-grade biologically active compounds. The search for these bioactive substances is termed ‘bioprospecting’. In marine bioprospecting, systematic category analysis is carried out on samples of sea life that are collected to evaluate whether they contain commercially viable products.
The field of marine bioprospecting is still virgin territory; this research group is committed to utilising any promising compounds from the marine environment for the Biobased Economy. Zeeland is traditionally a region with close connections with the sea, making it an attractive option for development in terms of a marine biobased industry. The research group can be a significant facilitator in this process.

“Government procurement crucial for a breakthrough in biobased products”

Students take the stage

Pyrochem through the eyes of a student

From orange waste to a green future

Blueprint of fungal genomes

BioGov.net

Water-resistant mycelium composites

Sustainable Particle Board

Circular Emergency Shelters

FACET

Totally Nuts: Circular Biobased Thermosets from Cashew Nutshells

Biodegradation Coatings Stahl

Green Hub: Information hub value chains green residual flows

Acceleration of nature-inclusive area development

Reflow

Biobased Insulation – Lifespan Determination (BILD)

Setting up and performing biodiesel trials in a coaster ship

Mythic

PyroCHEM: Waste2Chem Innovation Cluster

Membrane Technologies

Flestic

Direct extrusion of PHA-rich biomass

Production of bioplastics from residual streams (WoW! Capitalisation)

Powering Agrifood

Smart Circular Bridge

Fungal Colourants

Learning Network Biobuilders

Orange in the Sea

Amino Acids!

Building on Mycelium

Follow-up S4G

Colour Application Centre

Making disposables disposable

Making shipping more sustainable (Russia – Benelux)

Zircular Seaweed food

Extraction of pectins from onion skins

Growing Leather

Learning Community Renewable fuels

PHA accumulation capacity of Sewage Treatment Plant

NACO – Zero Waste Collective Oosterhout

Bio Iso (RAAK MKB)

Design with RRM (rapidly renewable materials)

Resin biodegradation

Biobased gadgets

Biobased foam

Biobased flocculants for water purification

Viberscrete – biobased concrete

Innovation Traineeships

Building light

BioADD

CurCol

Learning community

Professors’ platform Biobased Economy

Porter’s lodge Delfland

Smart Circular Bridge

Biobased, circular Christmas bauble with packaging

Mycelium boards

Coloring Mycelium

Back to the Materials of the Future

National Biobased Database

Structural Health in Biobased Constructions

Beauti-Fully Biobased Fibers

Coffee Silverskin Biomass Utilization

Sustainable solid biofuels

Biobonding: Improved biocomposites

ZCORE (from Seaweed to COating Resin applications)

Cashing cashew

Material research for 3D printing

Seaweed Sterols

Onion deserves more

Circling in construction

Biomass flows in the province of South Holland

Circular Bio-based Construction Industry (CBCI)

Biodegradability of biopolymer and biopolymer composites

BBM+

Opportunities for composting in Brazil

Stadsjutters Breda

Innovation tables

Tomatozyme

MAA’s from algae

Sensor wise Biobased

Pyrolysis Experimental Garden South

Grassification

REFAWOOD

Valuable ONION

Biobased Network

Living Lab Biobased Brazil

Biopolymer Application Center

Borderless Biobased Education

Living Colors

Mycelium

BioCOLOUR

BioCannDo

Blue Chain

WOW!

Green Growth

Biobased Challenge

Biobased bridge

Pure Nature: 100% Biobased

National Biobased Knowledge Network
