Salford Microbiologists team up with Marble Brewery to produce hand sanitisers

The university has an established partnership with the brewery and will work in collaboration with them to provide students on a new BSc Microbiology degree programme real-life experience of the role that microbes play in fermented food and drink products.

When the pandemic hit, a team of chemists and microbiologists at the university decided to turn their knowledge into the production of hand sanitisers in the fight against COVID-19.

Dr Zeljka Krpetic and Dr Steve Rossington, chemists at the University of Salford, said: “As a team we had the knowledge on how to make hand sanitisers to WHO standards. It is thanks to Marble Brewery and Emerge Recycling that we could make it happen.  We decided to get our expertise together and quickly went into production to make the sanitisers for the Manchester food redistribution charity Fareshare GM.  

Professor Richard Birtles, Chair in Biomedicine, said: “Hygiene and sanitation are important elements of microbiology, along with fermentation and brewing, and we have co-developed our degree programme with industry partners like Marble Brewery to bring these elements to life for our students.  It made sense to pivot our energy to make the hand sanitiser to help make it safer for those who are working incredibly hard in the fight against COVID-19.

The University and Marble Brewery are working in partnership on content for degree programmes and are exploring other exciting opportunities that will enhance the learning for students.