Project Title:

• A Biorefining Approach to Converting Organic Solid Wastes into Multiple High Value-added Bioproducts

The inaugural CRF kick-off meeting, chaired by Principal Coordinator (PC) Professor Charles Chunbao Xu, took place on the afternoon of April 16, 2025, at the Interdisciplinary Multi-function Room (G7603). The meeting was attended by all Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs), their research team members, collaborators from the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, and industry partners, including Plant Plant Holding Company Limited.

The kick-off meeting served as a valuable platform for exchanging ideas, visions, and research experiences related to the project's five major tasks. It also provided a unique opportunity for young scientists and researchers from diverse disciplines to collaboratively address the challenges of municipal organic solid waste management. The project focuses on developing innovative biorefining technologies to convert organic solid waste into a range of high-value bioproducts, embracing a forward-looking, zero-waste approach. Specifically, the initiative aims to transform food waste (FW) and yard waste (YW)—including spent coffee grounds—into multiple value-added products such as non-isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) resins, bio-carbon materials, green hydrogen/methane (H?/CH?), and environmentally friendly chemicals. For example, NIPU resins can serve as plant growth media, while the bio-carbon materials produced may be applied in gas adsorption and separation processes. This project aligns closely with Hong Kong’s strategic goals of achieving zero landfill by 2035 and carbon neutrality by 2050. It also contributes to China’s broader “waste-free cities” initiative, reinforcing regional and national commitments to sustainable urban development and resource circularity.

Following the Kick-off Meeting, participants were given a brief tour of the laboratories of Professor Charles Chunbao Xu, Professor Carol Lin, and Professor Jason Lam. The tour was followed by a celebratory dinner at the CityUHK Chinese Restaurant.

Figure 1. Group photo with CRF PC and all Co-Principal Investigators.
(Left to right) Prof. Ben Leu (Co-PI from HKPolyU), Prof. Carol Lin (Co-PI from SEE), Prof. Dan Tsang (Co-PI from HKUST), Prof. Charles Xu (PC), Prof. Jun Zhao (Co-PI from HKBU), and Prof. Jason Lam (Co-PI from SEE).

Figure 2. Group photo with CRF PC and all Co-Principal Investigators.
(Left to right) (Front row) Prof. Eakalak Khan (guest from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA), Prof. Ben Leu, Prof. Carol Lin, Prof. Charles Xu, Prof. Dan Tsang, Prof. Jason Lam, and Prof. Jun Zhao.
(Back row) Research team members and industrial partners (i.e., Plant Plant Holding Limited and a provider of spent coffee grounds). Research collaborators Dr. Kirpluks Mikelis and Dr. Anda Fridrihsone from the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, and Dr. Dan Wu from Zhengzhou University, participated via Zoom.

Figure 3. Feedstocks and Biobased Products involved in this project.
(Left to right) Food waste hydrolysate, hydrochar, spent coffee grounds, and soilless planting medium made from biobased non-isocyanate polyurethane resin.