Biomicrogels Group

Founded in 2012 by Andrey Elagin, Biomicrogels Group is an environmental biotechnology company that develops and manufactures biopolymers from agricultural waste. Elagin, who holds a PhD in Chemical Technology and has a background in energy and economics, was inspired to find ways to reduce environmental impact. The company adapted microgel technology, previously used in medicine for drug delivery, for large-scale industrial use by developing a method to produce them from inexpensive, widely available raw materials like apple pomace, beetroot pulp, and cellulose.

The company's core technology involves creating nano-scale, 100% biodegradable polymers that can separate oils, petroleum products, and fats from water and hard surfaces. These biomicrogels work by encapsulating pollutants, forming a gel-like substance that can be easily skimmed or filtered, allowing for the potential recovery and reuse of the collected oil. This technology is applied across several business-to-business (B2B) sectors, including treating industrial wastewater, cleaning up oil spills, and enhancing the efficiency of vegetable oil extraction. One of the company's notable achievements was its involvement in mitigating the 2020 diesel fuel spill in Norilsk, Russia.

Biomicrogels Group operates on both a B2B and business-to-consumer (B2C) model. Its industrial solutions are sold directly to clients in industries like palm oil production in Malaysia and Indonesia, where its products have been shown to increase oil extraction rates and reduce water consumption. On the consumer side, the company launched the WONDER LAB brand in 2019, offering a line of eco-friendly home care products based on its biomicrogel technology. Headquartered in Oxford, UK, the company holds over 80 patents in 62 countries, employs more than 100 people, and operates multiple chemical laboratories and production facilities.

Keywords: biopolymers, water treatment, oil spill cleanup, vegetable oil extraction, wastewater treatment, green chemistry, biodegradable materials, environmental technology, circular economy, industrial cleaning, palm oil processing, cellulose, pectin, cleantech, agricultural waste recycling, eco-friendly detergents, sustainable materials, oil separation, produced water treatment, surface cleaning