Glasswort's Potential
The little glasswort – a plant found in many parts of the world – has great potential in many contexts. This halophyte, for example, can:

1. Grow in saline soils with little need for irrigation. The plant helps to desalinate the soil, making it suitable for other crops again.
2. Be part of a sustainable biomass production for consumption, as its tips are edible, and it can also be used in other forms of bioproducts.
3. Potentially be used as a dietary supplement, as extracts from the plant appear to have significant health benefits

There is also ongoing research into whether glasswort can be used in bioenergy production. It is already commercially grown in the EU.

Collaboration between Biotechnology and Energy Technology 
In a LeadENG project, biotechnology students in Aalborg and energy technology students in Esbjerg are further exploring the potential of glasswort by working on identifying and optimizing the extraction of bioactive compounds from the plant.

• The biotechnology students have worked on extracting bioactive compounds from the green biomass of glasswort to identify already known compounds using advanced techniques like HPLC-MS (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry). Additionally, they purify and characterize the unknown compounds in the plant. An important part of their work is determining the structure of the unknown compounds using NMR spectroscopy (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance). They also test the extracted compounds for antimicrobial activity using real-time microscopy which could lead to the discovery of new applications in the pharmaceutical or food industries.
• The main focus for the energy technology students is to optimize the extraction and purification processes for already known or newly discovered compounds. Specifically, they work on improving biorefining techniques in the laboratory to achieve the best results in the production of bioactive compounds. The energy technology students also use the modeling tool SuperPro to simulate and optimize industrial processes, including utilization of the plant’s fiber parts for bioenergy production.

The project is based on Aalborg University’s problem-based learning (PBL) model, where students gain experience in working on interdisciplinary projects. The biotechnology students extract and identify bioactive compounds, while the energy technology students optimize extraction and purification processes. This is done in a close feedback loop between the groups, ensuring that the best techniques are developed and implemented. The interdisciplinary collaboration is central to the success of the project.

The results from the project could not only lead to new bioactive products in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sectors but also optimize the production of already known bioactive products. Due to the health benefits of glasswort and its potential in bioenergy production, the project may in the future involve groups from several other study programs across departments and even faculties.