Bioeconomy

A polyester plastic of great mechanical stability, which is also easily recyclable and even compostable: Stefan Mecking, chemist at the University of Konstanz, and his research group present a new material.

Around 7 million euros to promote more sustainable use of the world's limited phosphate supply: The German-Chinese Research Training Group AMAIZE-P can continue its research on phosphorus as one of the most important nutrient elements for plants. The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved a second funding period of another 4.5 years.

More animal welfare and better animal health, more climate protection and less environmental impact: Researchers at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart are pursuing these goals with a new approach: They are exploring the interplay between farm animals and the millions of microorganisms in the animals’ digestive tracts. The federal and state governments are supporting the university with the construction of a unique research center for around…

Whether in drinking water, food or even in the air: plastic is a global problem - and the full extent of this pollution may go beyond of what we know yet. Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), together with partners from the Netherlands and Australia, have reviewed conventional assumptions for the transport of plastic in rivers.

Pharmaceutical products, medicine, proteins, and nutrients are usually produced on an industrial scale in a bioreactor. Although the technology is well established, more research is needed in order to be able to increase the production volumes. A visual inspection of the production is usually not possible because bioreactors are made of opaque steel.

Start for an EU-wide collaborative project: Under the leadership of the French company Fairbrics SAS, 17 project partners from 7 European countries are coming together. The common goal is to produce end products from polyester in a closed cycle using industrial CO2 emissions and to bring them to market maturity. The DITF produce synthetic fibers from plastics of non-fossil origin.

Overview

What is a bioeconomy?

The bioeconomy, or biobased economy, is a new model for industry and the economy. It involves using renewable biological resources sustainably to produce food, energy and industrial goods. It also exploits the untapped potential stored within millions of tons of biological waste and residual materials.

The aim of the bioeconomy is to move industry’s raw material base towards a greater use of biogenic raw materials or to increasingly use bioinspired processes and bring to the forefront issues such as climate protection and sustainability. The bioeconomy therefore creates new opportunities for services, technologies and products. Bioeconomy products already exist, especially as far as chemicals and materials are concerned.

Article - 14/05/2012

Can green cuttings be turned into biogas?

Grass flowers and small bushes are constant features along roadsides they are mowed at regular intervals and either dumped left where they are or less frequently composted. Cuttings like these could contribute to solving the global energy problem and even generate money. However communities that are aiming to turn green waste from roadsides riversides or sports grounds into biogas and hence a renewable source of energy are confronted with…

Article - 07/03/2011

Biofilms – complex microbial communities and their molecular tricks

Microorganisms can be found in drinking water processing systems catheter cannulae and implants habitats where they can cause serious problems for human health. It is not an easy task to get rid of the bacteria as they form bacterial communities that constitute an excellent protection against UV radiation disinfectants and antibiotics. A group of researchers led by Dr. Thomas Schwartz at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology is investigating the…

Article - 25/11/2013

Award-winning gold recovery with bacteria

A team of students from Heidelberg University that took part in the international iGEM competition in 2013 have developed a method for the recycling of gold from electronic waste by way of biomineralisation assisted with a bacterial peptide. In order to achieve this, the entire peptide synthesis pathway was transferred into E. coli bacteria. The Heidelberg team’s method, which is on a par with classical chemical gold recovery, won them the grand…

Article - 06/12/2010

Bioplastics – materials that have the potential to be used in medical technology

At the recent International Symposium on Biopolymers ISBP in Stuttgart scientists discussed the use of biobased plastics for applications in the field of medical technology. The majority of strategies presented at the symposium will only be ready for market in a few years time. However they give an idea as to why bioplastics are likely to be applied to a greater extent in the field of medical technology.

Article - 21/05/2010

A small moss turns professional

No standards are available on the proper storage and documentation of sample material areas in which every research group does what suits it best. However in February 2010 the International Moss Stock Centre IMSC was established at the University of Freiburg and is rapidly changing this situation. Researchers led by Prof. Dr. Ralf Reski have developed a method that enables them to store biological material in a cryobank for an indefinite period…

Article - 14/05/2012

Biogas and sustainability

The German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) has led to a considerable increase in the use of biogas in Germany. However, increasing biogas production must make ecological sense and not generate conflict with the sustainability objectives of environmental conservation schemes. There must therefore be a careful consideration of the overall conditions. An analysis of the ecological impact of the generation and use of biogas in Germany taking into…

Article - 04/02/2010

A very special tree house

Architects at the University of Stuttgart not only copy constructive and functional principles from nature, they also use plants whilst they are still growing to create buildings that will become green areas in the truest sense of the word. The first large construction, a tower made from willows, is almost fully grown. Further constructions are planned in the near future.

Article - 25/10/2010

Circadian rhythms and molecular clocks

The research group led by the biochemist Professor Michael Brunner at Heidelberg University is investigating the molecular mechanisms of the 24-h circadian rhythm of Neurospora crassa. The researchers have been able to show how the fungus is able to maintain the day-night rhythm even in the presence of disturbing light signals at night.

The report Future Bioenergy and Sustainable Land Use is the first integrated study of bioenergy to explore the issue in the context of global environmental and development policy. It shows that the global sustainable potential for producing energy from biomass is significant.

Article - 28/09/2009

BioLog – bioplastics made from crayfish

BioLog GmbH, based in Landsberg, is developing bioplastics from chitin, a natural biopolymer extracted from the exoskeleton of crustaceans such as shrimps and crabs. Chitin is modified to chitosan, which can be used for many applications, including for wastewater treatment and as animal feed.