Chemistry

Tree trunks consist of up to 20% bark, which until now has only been partially utilized. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (MPIKG) have now significantly expanded the use of native tree bark through a new process. As part of a feasibility study, the team was able to demonstrate that tree bark can be preserved in its natural state and processed into panels without adhesives. The glue-free bark panels could replace conventional chipboard in interior design or in the furniture and packaging sector.

The Corona pandemic had caused sales in the German biotech industry to soar for two years in a row. Just as great was the willingness of companies to invest in research and development (R&D) and create new jobs. Vaccine developers such as BioNTech and CureVac in particular had determined the record growth. Now, the annual survey of the industry association BIO Deutschland revealed a rather pessimistic picture.

High-density polyethylenes (HDPE) are popular materials for plastic containers, sheets and films because they form particularly robust and durable thermoplastics. These properties result from the way the molecular chains of the plastic combine - usually arranged in crystalline structures. However, the chemical structure of high-density polyethylene has a disadvantage: it is an almost pure hydrocarbon without functional groups, i.e. without reactive side elements of the main chain.

For many, hydrogen is the energy carrier of the future because it is a clean and versatile fuel that produces no direct greenhouse gas emissions. But hydrogen is only sustainable if it is produced with electricity from renewable sources. In the project "Structure-based Metabolic Engineering of H2 Production by Algae (H2M)", researchers from Ruhr-Universität Bochum and Osaka University want to use certain microalgae as hydrogen producers and enable them to produce hydrogen not only during the day through photosynthesis, but also at night.

Biodegradable plastics do not disappear from the environment as quickly and easily as their name promises. Instead, many plastics degrade only very slowly or partially. Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have developed a new approach that could alleviate this problem: They incorporate enzymes into the plastic during production that later effectively degrade the material in wastewater treatment plants or composting facilities.

Coat hooks are usually made from conventional plastics. Every year, up to ten billion of them are produced worldwide to display textiles such as socks, caps or scarves in fashion stores. However, only a small proportion of these are recycled. Disposable hooks in particular pose a recycling challenge due to their size. Yet this could soon change: With a textile hook made from plant-based biopolymers, traceless materials is now starting field trials for the first pilot product.

Euglenoids are found primarily in shallow and sweet waters such as ponds and village ponds, but also in the sea, brackish water or even salt lakes. The exceptionally wide distribution of these single-celled organisms makes them survival artists that have long fascinated researchers worldwide. However, of the 1,000 known species, only 20 have been studied.

Agricultural and forestry raw materials and residues have enormous potential for a sustainable bioeconomy. These include waste such as bark, wood residues, straw or grass, but also plants that grow on meadows and pastures. The utilization of grassland cuttings for the bioeconomy in the sense of a circular economy is the focus of the ProGrün project. Researchers at the University of Hohenheim want to establish the proteins contained in grassland cuttings as a new resource - for example, for animal feed, food or platform chemicals.

The DFG has been supporting cutting-edge research at German universities for years. In the coming year, more than a dozen new collaborations will again be funded: The research organization is making a total of 166 million euros available for 13 Collaborative Research Centers (CRCs), initially for the next four years. Bioeconomy research will also benefit from the millions in funding.