They sit tight on the seabed, and even the waves hitting the coast can’t harm them – mussels. The secret of their resilience lies in their feet: The shellfish’s feet produce a protein that sticks underwater like no other substance. Be it stone, metal, or plastic: the mussel adhesive sticks extremely well to almost any surface.
Chemistry
Biotechnological upcycling for plastic waste
Germany has a recycling problem, even if it appears to be different at first glance. While the Federal Environment Agency reported a recycling rate of 99.4% for 2017, slightly more than half of the 6.15 million tonnes of collected plastic waste was thermally recycled, i.e. used to generate heat in waste incineration plants, cement works or power stations. Material recycling amounted to only 2.87 million tonnes (46.7%). This process conserves around three times as much of the energy contained in the plastic as can be used thermally by burning it.
Silage films made from biopolymers
After the harvest, straw bales wrapped in white plastic film dominate the landscape of many fields. In these so-called silage bales, fodder crops such as corn are turned into food for cattle through lactic acid fermentation. But the films used for this purpose are anything but environmentally friendly. They are made of conventional plastic and have been shown to leave traces of microplastics in the soil. "In addition - and this is particularly regrettable - they have so far been purely disposable and thus bad for the eco-balance," explains Isabell Kleiber.
Making almonds and nuts germ-free
Whether ground or roasted: Almonds and nuts are especially in demand during the Christmas season. But the protein-rich food is unfortunately also a source of salmonella, which can cause food infections. Now, researchers have succeeded in finding a way to make them germ-free.
Turning waste water into electricity
A growing number of people on the planet also means a growing amount of waste and waste water. Its conventional treatment in sewage treatment plants requires a lot of energy and is quite expensive. Now, there is a new approach that focuses on bacteria. In short: these microorganisms can not only purify waste water, but also generate electricity at the same time.
Scenarios for microbial plastic recycling
Objects made of plastics last extremely long. The obvious advantage of longevity is also a problem, as the material, which consists of fossil raw materials, has been proven to pollute the environment. The problem is microplastic particles, which are created by decomposition and can travel long distances. They are now found everywhere - in the soil, groundwater, sea and the food chain. Recycling plastics and returning the material back into the cycle is an alternative way to get the plastic problem under control without wasting the material.
Biogas from mushrooms
Tübingen-based Novis GmbH is dedicated to the further processing and generation of energy from residues. For example, it already generates biogas from manure, chicken dung, fruit and vegetable residues as well as slaughterhouse waste. Now another residual material is to be added: Champignon compost (Champost). As part of the EU project "Smartmushroom", which is endowed with 3 million euros, the team led by Novis Managing Director Thomas Helle intends to develop a biogas plant that will be operated with champost.
nova-Institut (2019): Sugar Sustainability Study
According to the study, first-generation fermentable sugar is just as advantageous for a sustainable raw materials strategy of the European chemical industry as second-generation sugar.
High performance without oxygen
Biotechnology is no longer a new field, yet innovative processes are constantly emerging. Many of them could reach market maturity, but there is no industrial implementation routine in place yet. Among these are bioelectrochemical processes. The core of microbial bioelectrochemistry is the interaction of microorganisms with electrodes. Some bacteria can breathe with electrodes: Electrons generated during the production of a recyclable material are then not transferred to oxygen by these organisms during respiration, but are passed directly to an electrode.
Bio-based adhesives with added value
In many areas, the chemical industry is trying to replace petroleum-based products with bio-based alternatives. However, sustainability, which is welcomed by consumers, is not always a sufficient argument for actually using the new raw materials. The threshold for this is low for raw materials that can be substituted without having to change processes or equipment. However, if development work or even investments in the conversion of existing plants are necessary, economic aspects hamper the switch to ecological alternatives.