Objective The control of ice nucleation is key to improving the efficacy of a wide range of industrial processes, but effective methods of controlling ice nucleation have been remarkably elusive. In many manufacturing processes, from cryo-storage of stem cells for regenerative medicine, making ice cream or even freeze concentration of alcoholic beverages, the aqueous medium will supercool well below its equilibrium melting point before freezing. Controlling this nucleation processes is critical, for example, in the cryopreservation of cells excessive supercooling usually results in their death. Hence, there is a demand for materials which catalyse ice formation and are compatible with a range of industrial processes.In my ERC Starting grant we made a major new discovery concerning an important class of ice nucleating particles for clouds in the Earth's atmosphere (Atkinson et al., Nature, 2013). We showed that a minor component of many desert soils, feldspars, are very effective ice nucleants; this was surprising since it was previously thought that the clay minerals were the most efficient. This new knowledge offers a new route to controlling ice nucleation in many applications.The initial focus will be on a range of applications in cryopreservation since it is these applications I am well positioned to exploit, but also represent a significant high value and growing market. Many other opportunities exist and during the course of IceControl we will explore the feasibility of the application of this technology in areas such as freeze drying and ice cream production. The specific tasks in IceControl will be optimising delivery of feldspar, manufacture of feldspar, assessing regulatory issues, trials and testing, dissemination of results, technical marketing, assessment of significant markets and the formation of a business plan. Fields of science engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringengineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesfood technologymedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cells Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-OA-2013-PoC - European Research Council ERC Proof of Concept Call for proposal ERC-2013-PoC See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CSA-SA(POC) - Supporting action (Proof of Concept) Host institution UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS EU contribution € 142 632,00 Address WOODHOUSE LANE LS2 9JT Leeds United Kingdom See on map Region Yorkshire and the Humber West Yorkshire Leeds Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Benjamin Williams (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS United Kingdom EU contribution € 142 632,00 Address WOODHOUSE LANE LS2 9JT Leeds See on map Region Yorkshire and the Humber West Yorkshire Leeds Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Benjamin Williams (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
