![](https://www.mnext.nl/app/uploads/2019/04/dani-california-789655-unsplash-1024x685.jpg)
In 2017, a research question arose from tomato growers. CoE BBE was approached with the question whether enzymes from the tomato leaves could be used to “purify” the drain water (the excess nutrient water that has not been absorbed by the crop) from the greenhouse. The grower could generate additional income in this way. The research project has now been completed and major steps have been taken.
Han van Kasteren, professor at CoE BBE, is satisfied with the project results.
The case: Tomato growers use crop protection products just like other gardeners. These rinse away with the drain water. The environmental requirements for these products will become stricter in the coming years and growers are also constantly looking for new ways to save money and to add value to their residual flows.
And that is where the question arises: Can we purify the “polluted” irrigation water with tomato leaves? “Certain types of enzymes have the property that they can break down crop protection agents. Last autumn we collected the tomato leaves and extracted the enzymes with a specially developed press. In the laboratory we started working on various tests. This resulted in the following conclusions: There are indeed active enzymes in tomato leaf extract. And these enzymes still work after they have been stored for a longer period, ”says Han van Kasteren.
But does the enzyme work to such an extent that the grower can use it for the purification of drain water? Unfortunately, the last point from the study could not be proven. “Because there is virtually no difference in the degree of degradation of the crop protection products between whether or not to use the tomato leaf extract.” The stability of the crop protection product appears to play an important role in this.
The project and research have now been completed but the problem has not yet been resolved. “There are enough questions to start a new investigation. For example, whether the enzyme works with more stable crop protection products and whether there are other applications. Then we would have to start a new project. And that decision has not yet been made. ”
The research was based on the study conducted by Stichting Innovatie Glastuinbouw (SIGN) into the market interest in simple enzyme extracts from greenhouse horticulture residues. SIGN works together with two SME partners, Duijvestijn Tomaten and Lans Zeeland. Together they approached CoE BBE.
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Deze gaan we nog vaak terugzien
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Protein of Columbus
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Energy Education
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BIO-CAPPP
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Mycelium on Board
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From orange waste to a green future
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Reflow
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Mythic
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Zircular Seaweed food
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Design with RRM (rapidly renewable materials)
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Resin biodegradation
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Biobased flocculants for water purification
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Viberscrete – biobased concrete
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Innovation Traineeships
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Building light
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BioADD
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CurCol
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Learning community
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Professors’ platform Biobased Economy
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Porter’s lodge Delfland
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Smart Circular Bridge
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Coloring Mycelium
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Back to the Materials of the Future
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Structural Health in Biobased Constructions
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Beauti-Fully Biobased Fibers
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Coffee Silverskin Biomass Utilization
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Sustainable solid biofuels
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Biobonding: Improved biocomposites
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ZCORE (from Seaweed to COating Resin applications)
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Cashing cashew
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Material research for 3D printing
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Seaweed Sterols
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Onion deserves more
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Circling in construction
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Circular Bio-based Construction Industry (CBCI)
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Biodegradability of biopolymer and biopolymer composites
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BBM+
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Opportunities for composting in Brazil
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Stadsjutters Breda
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Innovation tables
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Tomatozyme
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MAA’s from algae
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Sensor wise Biobased
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Pyrolysis Experimental Garden South
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Grassification
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REFAWOOD
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Valuable ONION
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Biobased Network
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Living Lab Biobased Brazil
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Biopolymer Application Center
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Borderless Biobased Education
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Living Colors
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Mycelium
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BioCOLOUR
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BioCannDo
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Blue Chain
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WOW!
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Green Growth
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Biobased Challenge
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Biobased bridge
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National Biobased Knowledge Network
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