1 AquaBiotics Sur | DeepTech Circular Biorefinery | Blue Taurine

AQUABIOTICS SUR

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Patagonian DeepTech Innovation

Blue Taurine

Upcycling industrial marine byproducts in Patagonia into high-purity organic compound and sustainable bioactive metabolites.

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Ecosystem — DeepTech Acceleration

Incubated within the Blue Innovation Ecosystem

Supported by an acceleration framework engineered to de-risk bioprocess scale-up in Patagonia.

AquaBiotics Sur is accelerated under the Volcanes Program, an initiative managed by Këtrawa Lab in conjunction with the UC Innovation Center, and funded by CORFO through its "Potencia" program. Within this incubation framework, we are actively structuring the strategic outreach to secure our first Letters of Intent (LOIs) for process stream supply with regional processing plants.

01 — Why We Exist

Where others see byproduct,
we see the beginning.

In Los Lagos, the sea is not just a landscape. It is a living industry. Each year, hundreds of thousands of tons of Chilean mussel are processed in coastal plants that generate, as an inevitable consequence, millions of liters of cooking broth.

That broth was treated for decades as a liability. A problem. A rising regulatory cost.

AquaBiotics Sur was born from a different question: what if that byproduct were, in reality, the most valuable raw material Chile has to offer to the world?

The Liability

Industrial Cooking Effluents

The Chilean mussel industry produces vast volumes of cooking liquid waste. These effluents, highly concentrated in organic nitrogen and phosphorus, are dumped directly into Patagonian waters, threatening fragile coastal marine biodiversity.


0 L/ton
COOKING EFFLUENT RATIO
$ 0 M+
POTENTIAL REGULATION FINES
"We are not a remediation company. We are a company that found value where no one was looking."
2009

Dragnes et al. confirm

Target compound transfers massively to cooking water during thermal processing of mussels. The process stream is not a liability — it is a repository.

Pérdidas documentadas: hasta 100% de compuesto en el caudal

2015–2019

FONDEF UTFSM validates process

The first Chilean public project demonstrates that the MF→UF→NF route recovers compound from canning process water. The science was already funded by the State.

Retención NF: ~65% · Secuencia MF→UF→NF validada

2024

WASEABI scales in Europa

At pilot scale in Galicia, nanofiltration achieves a concentration factor of 5.2× from mussel cooking water. Industrial technology exists.

Factor concentración: 5.2× · Eliminación DQO: 98.2%

2025
AquaBiotics Sur

Applying that knowledge to the specific broth of mytilus chilensis in Los Lagos, for the global premium petfood and nutraceutical market. The gap has not been closed.

02 — Strategic Convergence

Four forces that align exactly now.

1

Regulation

Chilean regulations DS N °90 and Resolution 613 Exenta force mussel plants to manage process waters at rising costs. Every liter discharged has a regulatory price.

2

Market

The high-value pet food segment grows over 6% annually and demands marine-origin, traceable, petroleum-free ingredients. Synthetic compound cannot meet this demand.

3

Technology

Nanofiltration membrane costs have dropped significantly. Processes that were economically unviable five years ago now yield positive margins.

4

Origin

Chile is the second largest mussel producer in the world. The raw material is available, continuous, and currently discharged without valuation. It cannot be replicated anywhere else.


Competitor Vector

The Marine Purity Advantage

Comparing petrochemical synthetic alternatives against AquaBiotics Sur closed-loop organic extract.

$ 0 B
Global TAM
$ 0 M
High-Value SAM
$ 0 M
Target SOM

Synthetic Target Compound

(Current Standard)

  • Origin / Source Chemical synthesis (Petrochemicals)
  • Raw Material Cost Volatile (Dependent on crude oil)
  • Water / Energy Footprint Very High (Heavy processes)
  • Traceability Zero (Hidden in supply chain)
  • Environmental Impact Polluting (Solvents)

Fermentation

(Microalgae)

  • Origin / Source Biotechnological culture (Bioreactors)
  • Raw Material Cost High (Culture media and nutrients)
  • Water / Energy Footprint High (Constant energy and freshwater)
  • Traceability Medium (Biological origin)
  • Environmental Impact Neutral (Requires new inputs)
Blue Taurine

(Blue Extract)

  • Origin / Source Upcycled Marine Source (local process streams)
  • Raw Material Cost Zero / Negative (Industrial liability)
  • Water / Energy Footprint Ultra-Low (Captures existing flow)
  • Traceability 100% Traceable (Local Mussel Processors)
  • Environmental Impact Positive (Fjord sanitation / Eutrophication control)

Who We Work For

One process. Two problems solved.

MUSSEL PROCESSING PLANT

Your byproduct turns into revenue

Today, mussel cooking broth is a cost: treatment, disposal, risk of fines. AquaBiotics Sur transforms it into the raw material of a premium ingredient, with zero investment on your part.

  • Elimination of byproduct management costs
  • Potential participation in the commercial upside
  • Certifiable sustainable seal for your sustainability report
FORMULATORS

The ingredient your market seeks

Synthetic compound cannot be certified as organic. AquaBiotics Sur provides marine-origin, batch-traceable organic compound certified from Chiloé—the sole attribute that unlocks the premium segment that your competitors cannot reach.

  • Certifiable and traceable marine origin
  • Justified margin differential for labeling
  • Direct contribution to the ESG profile of the final product
[ Functional Beverages ]

Certified Upcycled & Clean Label energy drinks seeking to replace synthetic ingredients with sustainable, marine-derived alternatives.

[ Feline Nutrition ]

Feline nutrition (essential nutrient). Premium natural pet food brands seeking non-synthetic additives.

[ Aquaculture ]

Sustainable nutrition. Replacement of fishmeal with functional plant-based feeds supplemented with organic compound.

[ Nutraceuticals ]

High-purity organic compound for human heart health and athletic performance supplements.

03 — Proprietary Bioprocess

Cascadic Modular Biorefinery

Our proprietary separation technology recovers biomolecules without chemicals, yielding clean-label, marine-origin ingredients.

1

Advanced Pre-conditioning

Multistage filtration and clarification of the broth matrix.

2

Selective Concentration

Membrane filtration to retain macromolecules and concentrate target metabolites.

3

Selective Molecular Purification

Proprietary chromatographic polishing to isolate 99%+ pure compound.

4

Drying & Stabilization

Final formulation into a stable, dry ingredient.

5

Market

Integration into functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Bioinformatics & Digital Value

Bioinformatics & Advanced Process Intelligence

Structural exploration of marine metabolites and predictive AI engines for autonomous biorefinery control—presented as two complementary technical modules.

Interactive Structural Model

3D exploration of target metabolites, receptors, and enzymatic complexes via 3Dmol.js.

Target:
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• Left-click to rotate | Right-click to drag | Scroll to zoom

Target Compound

C₂H₇NO₃S
Academic Validation (OpenAlex)

...

...

...

Citations: ... Read Paper

Predictive AI Engines

Industrial ML/RL architectures for in-line quality, membrane control, and ecosystem-scale digital twins.

INTELLIGENT DIGITAL CORE

The Autonomous Biorefinery

Four macro-architectures coupling spectroscopy, reinforcement learning, computer vision, and digital twins to the modular membrane cascade.

XGBoost + 1D CNN

Raw Material Prediction & Quality Control (XGBoost + 1D CNN)

XGBoost and 1D CNN models delivering in-process analytics in under 60 seconds via NIR spectroscopy, reducing traditional HPLC analysis frequency by 70%.

PPO + LSTM · OPC-UA

Reinforcement Learning Membrane Control (PPO + LSTM)

Proximal Policy Optimization with LSTM predictors connected via OPC-UA to Siemens S7-1500 PLCs, increasing net permeate flux by 15% and forecasting membrane fouling 4 hours ahead.

ResNet-50 + Optuna

Bioprocess Computer Vision & Bayesian Optimization (ResNet-50 + Optuna)

ResNet-50 computer vision for real-time microscopic cell density monitoring, combined with Optuna Bayesian optimization cutting media design experiments by 60%.

PyTorch + MATLAB

Ecosystem Digital Twin (PyTorch + MATLAB)

Hybrid physico-chemical and predictive simulation in real time with PyTorch and MATLAB to optimize plant shutdowns and combinatorial collection logistics for process streams (VRP).

Development Milestone

Technology Maturity & Readiness

Quantifying our progress across technology execution, business planning, and market validation.

Technology Readiness

TRL Level 2-3
30%

Scientific hypothesis validated. Laboratory testing confirms selective recovery of organic compound from cooking water under static test matrices.

Target: TRL 5 (Pilot validation) Q4 2026

Customer Readiness

CRL Level 1-2
20%

Initial market analysis complete. Customer validation launched to gather requirements from pet food and aquaculture feed manufacturers.

Target: CRL 4 (Product testing) Q1 2027

Business Readiness

BRL Level 2
25%

Initial financial modeling designed. Strategic roadmap established. Applying for seed grants and local incubation programs.

Target: BRL 4 (Investment phase) Q2 2027
Strategic Protection

Intellectual Property & Defensive Moat

Our technology roadmap follows a layered protection model (Onion IP) designed to shield both physical assets and digital developments before industrial scale-up.

01

Physicochemical & Bioprocess Isolation

Invention patents protecting the modular biorefinery sequence and stable composition profiles of marine biocompounds (Blue Taurine, Prebiotics and Prebiotic Protein Extract).

02

Autonomous Software & CII Architecture

Hybrid protection for industrial process control predictors: Computer-Implemented Invention (CII) patents for algorithms with physical plant impact, and trade secret (know-how) under strict governance for quality prediction models.

03

Territorial Brand Equity

International trademark registration and Geographic Indication (G.I.) structuring that exclusively links the biotechnological value of the extract to the terroir of the Los Lagos Region fjords.

Raw Material

Mussel Cooking Broth (mussel process stream)

Main Product

Blue Extract (Organic Marine Compound)

Quality Standards

>95% HPLC Purity · Clean Label · Upcycled

04 — Verified Scientific Support

Proven technical viability.

Every statement on this site has a verified source. These are the references that sustain the technical viability of AquaBiotics Sur.

[1]

"Chile: second largest mussel producer globally"

AMIChile / Diario Chiloé (2024)

diariochiloe.cl/noticia/entrevista/2024/11/chile-lidera-el-mercado-mundial-del-chorito
[2]

"Target compound transfer to cooking water — losses up to 100%"

Dragnes et al. (2009). Int. Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 60(2), 143-152.

DOI: 10.1080/09637480701621654 · PubMed: 18608559
[3]

"300–400 L broth/ton mussel · 5.2× concentration factor validated"

Pérez-Santaescolástica et al. (2024). Future Foods.

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667010024000064
[4]

"Target compound: most abundant free amino acid in mussels (32.7 mg/g dry weight)"

Bjerknes et al. (2024). Frontiers in Nutrition, 11:1443229.

DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1443229 · PMC: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11563823
[5]

"Global market USD 1,150M (2024), CAGR 5.2%"

Verified Market Reports (2024). Market — Global Industry Analysis.

verifiedmarketreports.com/product/organic-compound-market/
Full technical document available upon request · byroncalderon@aqua-biotics.com
05 — Strategic Alignment

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Operating at the intersection of the marine industry and biotechnology.

12

Responsible Production

Regenerative Model

12
Targets & Alignment

• Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through upcycling industrial streams.

AquaBiotics: We transform thousands of tons of mussel cooking effluents, turning waste into high-value bioactives.

• Target 12.4: Environmentally sound management of wastes throughout their life cycle.

AquaBiotics: Our chemical-free extraction cleanly treats effluents before returning them to the ecosystem.

14

Life Below Water

Ocean Conservation

14
Targets & Alignment

• Target 14.1: Prevent and significantly reduce marine nutrient pollution from land-based activities.

AquaBiotics: By removing up to 98% of the organic load, we directly prevent coastal eutrophication.

• Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems.

AquaBiotics: We protect Patagonia's fragile marine biodiversity against harmful industrial dumping.

6

Clean Water

Sustainable Water Management

6
Targets & Alignment

• Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution and halving untreated process water.

AquaBiotics: Our biorefinery purifies industrial water streams, drastically reducing untreated discharges.

9

Innovation

Fostering Resilient Ecosystems

9
Targets & Alignment

• Target 9.4: Retrofit industries with clean technologies and increased resource-use efficiency.

AquaBiotics: We provide the local industry with scalable, green technology to modernize their operations.

• Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research and upgrade technological capabilities.

AquaBiotics: Our AI-driven bioinformatics and molecular separation bring DeepTech to the region.

13

Climate Action

Combating Climate Change

13
Targets & Alignment

• Target 13.2: Integrate low-carbon bio-extraction measures into operational strategies.

AquaBiotics: Our energy-efficient extraction processes have a much lower carbon footprint than synthetic alternatives.

8

Decent Work

Sustainable Growth

8
Targets & Alignment

• Target 8.2: Higher economic productivity through technological upgrading.

AquaBiotics: We create high-value IP and tech-driven jobs in a traditionally extraction-based economy.

• Target 8.4: Improve resource efficiency, decoupling growth from degradation.

AquaBiotics: We enable economic growth through circular upcycling without environmental deterioration.

06 — Origins

The Los Lagos Paradox

AquaBiotics Sur was born in the heart of the Los Lagos Region in southern Chile, a territory known for its pristine fjords and thriving aquaculture industry. A paradox was recognized: while the mussel industry is a major economic driver, it also generates significant volumes of liquid byproduct that is currently discarded.

this was seen not as a liability, but as an untapped reservoir of valuable marine biomolecules. The mission is to lead the Blue bioeconomy through marine biotechnology.

Mission

To lead the Blue bioeconomy by sanitizing the coasts, replacing synthetics with sustainable purity, and positioning Patagonia as a global hub for biotech innovation.

Vision

To be the global leader in upcycled marine metabolites, setting the standard for circularity and biotech excellence from the heart of Patagonia.

Location

Strategic operations in Los Lagos Region, Chile—the hub of the Chilean mussel industry.

Patagonian Terroir

The only team with a mailing address.

99% of Chile's mussel cultivation is concentrated in the pristine fjords of the Los Lagos Region. Our bioactives are not synthesized in abstract chemical plants; they are traceable to specific coordinates in Patagonia, safeguarding natural ecosystems.

Byron Calderón
Biotech Pioneer

Byron Calderón

CEO | Biotechnologist | Process Engineering

Specialized in molecular biotechnology and sustainable chemical engineering. His work focuses on building circular extraction systems that process industrial streams into bio-products.

At AquaBiotics Sur, he leads process scaling and technology validation, helping to replace toxic petro-synthetics with clean-label ingredients harvested from the clean currents of southern Chile.

"We didn't set out to build a treatment plant; we discovered high-value molecules where everyone else saw process water."

07 — Strategic Pilot

Accelerating our upcycling scale.

We are constructing the first modular biorefinery pilot in Patagonia. Get in touch to discuss seed investment, product sampling, or aquaculture raw-material alliances.

Email Contact info@aqua-biotics.com
Location Los Lagos Region, Southern Chile
Download Executive One-Pager (EN)