The search for the perfect plasticizer

Rubber ducks are mostly made of the plastic PVC and a remarkably high proportion of plasticizers: 35% to 40%. And not only rubber ducks need plasticizers, but everything from children's toys to packaging material, plastic components or medical products. Anyone who wants sustainable, bio-based plastics as an alternative to petrochemical products therefore also needs bio-based solutions for plasticizers. This is precisely what project partners from the Technical University of Hamburg, the University of Bielefeld and the chemical company BASF have set out to achieve.

Biogas without carbon dioxide emissions

Methane from biogas plants is supposed to be a more climate-friendly alternative to natural gas. However, besides methane, carbon dioxide is also produced in the biogas plant. Although this is biogenic and therefore less problematic than CO2 from fossil sources, these emissions must be avoided if global warming is to be limited to 1.5 degrees. Fraunhofer researchers have developed a process for this, which they now want to scale up step by step.

Measure metabolism of individual cells

Whole-cell biocatalysts - sounds complicated, but simply means that cells of an organimus are used to produce valuable products - such as yeast for beer or bread. Even complex chemical molecules such as pharmaceuticals can be produced in this way. The microorganisms grow in a bioreactor or fermenter and produce the desired products through their metabolism. Researchers have long been asking the question: Are all cells equally productive or is there a kind of "division of labor"?

"The ecological footprint must incorporate all climate factors"

Emissions of the greenhouse gas CO2 are responsible for most of global warming. However, land and oceans currently absorb only about half of these emissions. So-called CO2 removal measures such as renaturation of peatlands, coal phase-out, energy-efficient building refurbishment and climate-friendly mobility are intended to counteract global warming. But are these measures really enough to rebalance carbon sources and sinks? No - says Nadine Mengis.

Climate-friendly cement from mining sludge

It's a question of perspective: Up to now, many companies have regarded mining sludge and mine water as pollutant-containing waste because they contain cadmium and arsenic, for example. But a research team from the TU Bergakademie Freiberg sees things differently. In a pilot project, the experts have developed a process that removes the pollutants from sludge and water, extracts valuable substances and uses the rest as raw material for a more climate-friendly production of cement and concrete alternatives.