Chemistry

Bioprocess developed for plant hormone

Scientists at Bielefeld University have succeeded for the first time in enzymatically producing 12-oxophytodienoic acid (12-OPDA), a central precursor of the plant hormone jasmonic acid. The jasmonates are derived from the acidity, by means of which plants react to injuries, warn each other of pests or also control fruit ripening: "For example, jasmonic acid can trigger the release of toxic substances such as nicotine in the leaves, which harm the attackers", explains biologist Karl-Josef Dietz.

Vanilla aroma from lignin

Vanillin gives the vanilla bean its characteristic flavor. It is one of the most frequently used flavoring substances in food and perfume production, but also in the production of pharmaceuticals. Several tens of thousands of tons are used annually. Until now, however, artificially produced vanillin has been made from petroleum, creating toxic waste. Researchers at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz (JGU) have now succeeded in developing a sustainable method for obtaining the coveted aroma substance. A team led by Siegfried Waldvogel u

Versatile composite materials from coffee grounds

For breakfast, after dinner or just in between: coffee is the most popular hot drink in Germany. For 72% of Germans, the energizing brown drink is part of everyday life. As a result, the average person consumes 165 litres of coffee per year. However, the leftover coffee grounds usually end up in the waste. Using this waste material as a resource for new bio-based materials and products has become an exciting field of research.

Creating new microbial bio-factories

“Microbes can do more” could be the motto of the "Microbial Biofabrics for the Industrial Bioeconomy" funding program of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Its goal is to identify previously not industrially used microorganisms and to optimize them in order to create new products or processes. Bacteria from the Bacteroidetes group might have this potential, which the "BaPro" project now hopes to exploit.

Customizing green packaging

From egg boxes and coffee capsules to technical packaging: with innovative and sustainable packaging solutions PAPACKS wants to make the world a little greener. The vision of founder and CEO Tahsin Dag and his team is to avoid plastic. The Cologne-based company, which was founded in 2013, relies exclusively on natural resources and residues, mainly from agriculture, which are processed into intelligent packaging through a special fibre casting process.

New impulses for electrobiotechnology

For some time, electrobiotechnology research teams have been investigating how electric power from microbial metabolic processes can be utilized. It is thought possible to use this electricity for the biotechnological production of oxygen-sensitive enzymes or biochemicals. The key is to remove the oxygen from the bacterial metabolism. In the "e-MICROBe" project, biochemist Miriam Agler-Rosenbaum from the University of Jena is researching how this can be achieved.

Bioeconomy project nominated for EU prize

The countdown has started: On July 9th the winners of the REGIOSTARS Awards will be announced by the European Commission. The prize is awarded annually as part of a competition to innovative EU regional funding projects. This year's nominees include the INTERREG V A-project "Bioeconomy-Green Chemistry" of the Ems-Dollart-Region (EDR). The team is competing with more than 50 applicants in the category "Circular economy for a green Europe" for the victory. The prize is awarded in a total of five categories.

New biosolar cell closes green gap

For millions of years, plants have been generating energy from photosynthesis. This complex biochemical process is controlled by two major proteins: the photosystems (PS) I and II. These natural photosynthetic protein complexes are also the heart of biosolar cells. They enable the conversion of the energy of sunlight into chemically bound energy. A special role is played by PSII, which can use water as an electron source for power generation. However, the green part of the sunlight has not been usable so far.

BioEconomy HUB: Sugar instead of oil

The coal exit has been decided. In 2038, the extraction and use of the fossil raw material is to come to an end nationwide. This was laid down by the German government in the Coal Exit Act at the beginning of July. Regions like Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg are now facing the challenge of structural change. In Central Germany, the bioeconomy as a promising economic sector is expected to guarantee the urgently needed innovation push.

Corn-based sandalwood scent

Sandalwood oil is usually extracted from the wood and roots of the white sandalwood tree. It grows mainly in tropical regions like India and needs 30 years to reach full ripeness. But the plant is threatened by massive overexploitation and is already on the Red List of the World Conservation Union. With Santalol, BASF and Isobionics are now launching an alternative to sandalwood oil.

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