Plant and seafood wastes are abundant renewable biomass on Earth and in the Brussels region that are attractive sources of bioenergy and bio based
chemicals and materials. The aim of the project is to valorize Brussels sorted biowastes into platform chemicals for green chemistry using innovative green
conversion technologies set upon a newly discovered “Reverse Photosynthesis”.  This technology uses redox depolymerizing enzymes aided by the electrons from a
photosensitizer powered by the Sunlight or artificial light.  Natural biowaste-derived photosensitizer like chlorophyll derivatives will be tested. The
innovative valorization of the lignocellulose that will be investigated involves extraction of lignin under environmental friendly conditions, light driven
enzymatic polysaccharides degradation for production of fermentable sugars and oligosaccharides, electro-fermentation to medium chains carboxylates and
lactic acid fermentation. While for chitin biowaste the implications of the Reverse Photosynthesis will be tested for the oxidation of the polysaccharides and
its conversion into wound healing hydrogel. Given that the biochemical processes involved in this technique do not require a dedicated area as for
classical pre-green chemistry plant, this process could be easily implemented in an urban context using relatively small plants scale in size.