Chemistry

Precious single cell oils born of waste water

Today, the strategic alliance ‘ZeroCarbonFootprint – ZeroCarbFP’ is exploring the ways in which this hidden potential could be recovered. The twelve participating partners in the alliance, which officially began work in 2013, are hunting for microorganisms that can use the carbon-rich wastes as substrates and in the process convert them into valuable building blocks and substances for industry.

Making methanol from biomass

Methanol is one of the chemical industry’s most important source materials. It is colourless, flammable and smells of alcohol, and the starting point for manufacturing paints and varnishes as well as fuel. In 2015, the global demand for methanol was about 65 million tonnes. However, this compound of carbon monoxide, water and oxygen is produced mainly from finite resources such as mineral oil, natural gas or coal.

Bio-lubricants from chip frying oil

No plant and no motor can run without lubricants. The metalworking industry is especially dependent on grease and oil. However, most lubricants consist of mineral oil of fossil origin. Recently, though, bio-lubricants made of sunflowers or rapeseed have been entering the market. They can certainly compete with mineral oil based products. But to date they are no more than niche products. The problem: Bio-lubricants are generally more expensive. Also, using these plants directly to make lubricants denies the foodstuffs industry of valuable raw materials.

Using chitin to strengthen textiles

Insects, worms, and crabs are already a delicacy in many countries, and due to their high protein content they are also more and more appreciated as a healthy alternative food source in Germany. Although they’re still rarely seen on the menu of our restaurants, they’re gaining a lot of momentum with scientists for one simple reason: their shells contain chitin, the second most common polysaccharide on this planet – surpassed only by cellulose.

nova-Institut (2017): Market study on biobased polymers

The turnover with bio-based polymers increased from €11 billion in 2014 to nearly €13 million in 2016.
These and more results are available in nova-Institute’s market study “Bio-based Building Blocks and Polymers – Global Capacities and Trends 2016 – 2021”. The study gives an overview of the biobased world market with latest data on capacities and applications. Additionally it shows real data for 2016 and a forecast for 2021.

Liquid wood conserves resources

In 1998, Tecnaro GmbH was set up in Pfinztal as a spin-off from the Frauenhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT) with the aim of bringing a new kind of medium to market. Since its foundation, it has been developing, producing and selling premium thermoplastic materials made from liquid wood. Together with Helmut Nägele, Jürgen Pfitzer has been managing the company in Ilsfeld-Auenstein, Baden-Württemberg, since 1998.

Making disposable nappies compostable

Nappies of renewable raw materials that are completely biodegradable: That is the aim that Dominik Franck is pursuing with his 'Fairwindel' company. 'Inspired' by his daughter's mountain of nappies, the chemist has developed a new type of nappy partly consisting of potato starch and maize. The 'Fairwindel' company, managed by Franck together with his wife in Mühlenbeck near Berlin, was commended in 2015 as a sustainability startup.

Peptides for everyone

Although peptides are already often used in cosmetics or the pharmaceutical industry, their unused potential is even greater. Their expensive and complex production however, has limited their application possibilities thus far. The Düsseldorf start up Numaferm has developed a new tool to remedy the situation. CEO Philipp Bürling is convinced the new Numaferm technology that was developed by his business partner Christian Schwarz will significantly reduce the production costs of peptides.

From biomass to hydrocarbons

In the global search for alternatives to oil-based fuels, the scientific community is focusing increasingly on renewable raw materials. While the automotive industry is gradually offering more eco-friendly models, the aviation industry is lagging behind. In the DropIn Biofuels project at the Technical University of Darmstadt, microbiologist Johannes Kabisch and his team are working on a new generation of biofuels that could help reduce the emissions caused by aviation.

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