Plant and process engineering

Bio-based - but not quite. That is often the case for sustainable building materials such as biofiber composites. Although natural fibers with excellent ecological and technical properties exist, resin is ultimately needed to turn them into the desired material. Until now, petroleum-based resin often had to be used because suitable sustainable alternatives are limited. Soon, things could be different: In the OrangeOil research project, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, researchers are developing a bio-based epoxy resin.

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.

By 2045, Germany wants to become climate-neutral. This means that no more CO₂ is to be emitted than can be absorbed by forests or other means. To achieve this goal, the German government is relying, among other things, on the expansion of renewable energies, and this includes wind turbines (WT). With the discontinuation of EEG subsidies last year, the first wind turbines have already been taken out of operation after 20 years. However, wind turbines contain valuable raw materials that have so far been insufficiently recycled.

Bioethanol is a bio-based alternative to petroleum-based fuels or fuel blends. A European research network with the participation of the University of Hohenheim has developed an experimental project whose process is even supposed to be more climate-friendly than merely climate-neutral. The focus is on the giant grass Miscanthus × gigantheus and the storage of carbon dioxide (CO₂). 

The bark of young trees is a feast for several inhabitants of the forest. Young plants in particular often do not survive the resulting damage. In reforestation, trees are therefore often protected by so-called growth covers: The coarse mesh material surrounds the trunk and keeps hungry mouths away. Technically, these shells should be removed after three to five years - but due to a lack of personnel and other reasons, this is not always the case. Over time, the tree covers decompose and end up as small and microplastic in nature.

Electrical appliances contain many valuable raw materials - but these are often lost at the end of the product cycle: The proportion of recycled raw materials in total production was 40% in Germany in 2016. In the "Circular by Design" project, researchers have now identified optimization opportunities using refrigerators and freezers as an example. The large-scale trial was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research with around 800,000 euros.

At the third edition of the Science Year discussion series "Karliczek. Impulse.", the spotlight was on industrial biotechnology and its little helpers. A free online talk entitled "Biotechnology makes it possible - innovations for greater sustainability" was held on June 16.

It's a win-win solution that has so far mostly failed because of the price: Cell-based meat could allow meat lovers to consume without moral, environmental, and climate concerns. There have been research projects on this since the 1970s, but commercialization has always failed due to production costs. Merck, the Darmstadt-based chemical and pharmaceutical company, now wants to change this and is seeking research cooperation with Darmstadt Technical University and Tufts University in the United States.

As an alternative source for protein, as an ingredient for cosmetics, or to improve waste management – these are just some of the possibilities that insects offer for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future industry. To discuss the newest research findings experts from 35 countries came together at the third annual international INSECTA conference. This year, 250 participants from research and industry gathered at the main building of the Technical University Berlin on September 7 and 8.