Press releases and news 2016

On the invitation of Methanol Market Services Asia, BioCat – the Straubing branch of Fraunhofer IGB – presented a newly developed innovative process for the conversion of carbon dioxide into valuable products at the Methanol Technology and Policy Commercial Congress.

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) has announced the winner of a pan-European competition on the Food4Future call: EIT Food. EIT Food will build sustainable end-to-end food supply chains realized through transformative innovation and education initiatives, with a central role for the consumer. EIT Food has broad coverage in EU member states and associated countries and is a unique partnership of 50 leading companies, universities, and scientific partners covering the entire food value chain. With the consumers as change agents, each of them is committed to jointly transform the way in which we currently produce, distribute and consume our food. Over the next seven years, the partners will invest close to 1.2 billion euros matched with up to 400 million euros financed by the EIT.

Microbial pathogens can be diagnosed unambiguously and within just 24 hours by means of high-throughput sequencing of their genetic makeup and special bioinformatics evaluation algorithms. Fraunhofer researchers have validated this in a clinical study with sepsis patients. The researchers present the NGS diagnosis platform at Medica in Düsseldorf from November 14–17, 2016.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) regulates all important cell functions and is an interesting biomaterial for scientists. Fraunhofer has developed an ECM that contains artificial chemical groups which supports natural cell behaviour outside the body. It can be applied as a stable coating on implants or be used in cell culture dishes.

Fraunhofer researchers have developed a process for the manufacturing of high-quality plastics from terpenes, a waste stream of the cellulose production. They will present their new bioplastic and its possible applications from October 19 – 26 at the K 2016 trade fair in Düsseldorf. Visitors can find the joint Fraunhofer booth in Hall 7, Booth SC01.

Wine harvesting season is a challenge for wastewater treatment plants. When the grapes are being processed, the effluent load rises steeply – by a factor of 17 in the Palatinate town of Edenkoben. High-load anaerobic digestion provides a flexible solution that cuts power consumption by 20 percent, generates over half of the required electricity on site and greatly reduces sewage sludge volumes.

Fuel additives such as isooctane have so far been produced from mineral oil. Commissioned by the French-German company Global Bioenergies, the Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes CBP in Leuna will soon be producing biobased additives for gasoline. The source is bio-isobutene, which is obtained biotechnically from sugar.

Sun rays damage unprotected skin. Substances in medications or lotions applied to the skin can be chemically modified by sun rays to have a toxic effect on the body. An accredited in-vitro test method at Fraunhofer IGB in Stuttgart measures the phototoxic potential of substances or cosmetics. The skin model was advanced with the addition of pigmentation that enables the testing of self-tanning agents.

At present, bacteria, fungi or viruses can generally only be detected with certainty by way of elaborate laboratory tests or animal experiments. The food and pharmaceutical industries would like to have faster tests to check their products. Fraunhofer researchers are therefore developing a stick that works like a pregnancy test and quickly delivers a result. In the future, it is also to be used for detecting allergens and disease pathogens in the blood.

In June 2016, Katja Schenke-Layland was awarded the Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) Harold F. Cleaver International Research Scholar Award. The award enables the German scientist and Director of Fraunhofer IGB to strategically strengthen the collaboration with the Eye Institute of the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC) in the field of stem cell-based tissue engineering applications in the eye.

Fraunhofer researchers have developed a system that can be used to obtain fertilizer from wastewater for direct use in agriculture. The process itself is particularly eco-friendly. The scientists showcase it on IFAT, world‘s leading trade fair for water, sewage, waste and raw materials management from May 30 to June 3, 2016 in Munich (hall A5, booth 217/316).

In order to balance out spikes in power grids resulting from non-uniform regenerative energy conversion from wind or sun, surplus power can be used for the decentralized production of chemicals. Fraunhofer IGB has developed an electrolytic cell in which hydrogen peroxide can be produced on site with electric energy from just water and air – along with oxidative wastewater treatment. The IGB researchers are presenting a prototype electrolytic cell at the IFAT trade fair in Munich from May 30 to June 3, 2016.

With a real-time mass spectrometer developed by Fraunhofer researchers, it has become possible for the first time to analyze up to 30 components simultaneously from the gas phase and a liquid, including in-situ analysis. This sensitive measurement system is also suitable for the automated monitoring and control of chemical reactions and biotechnological processes. From May 10 to 13, 2016 the team of developers is presenting its new measurement system at the Analytica trade fair in Munich.

Loads of cosmetics like sunscreen lotions contain titanium dioxide. These nanoparticles are contentious. Experts suspect they may have harmful effects on people and the environment. But it is difficult to prove that the particles are in the lotions. Using a method developed by Fraunhofer researchers, the particles can now be calculated. From May 10 to 13, 2016 the researchers are presenting the new method at the Analytica trade fair in Munich.

In regions with intensive livestock production, manure management is a problem. Nevertheless manure can become a valuable resource when its components are recovered as specific fertilizers and soil conditioners. For a year now a pilot plant for the processing of livestock manure – constructed under the leadership of Fraunhofer IGB – has been producing mineral nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers as well as organic soil conditioners. On June 14, 2016 the partners of the EU project BioEcoSIM will present their results and give a live demonstration of the plant.

Pressure change technology – PCT for short – makes it possible to preserve fruit juices as gently as possible and to extract valuable ingredients. Fraunhofer IGB has developed the process through to final industrial application. Apart from the food preservation applications, the experts also use the technology to obtain extracts and active ingredients from plant, microalgae and microbial cells. A research facility for the purpose of testing the technology under strict hygienic conditions is now in operation. This will be presented to specialists at a colloquium on June 21, 2016.

To create a more secure and sustainable future we need to use carbon from nature: “biocarbon”; using it to create biodegradable bioplastics, other biochemicals and for renewable energy generation that is available when required. Steambio is a collaboration of eleven partners from industry and academia with a common purpose: to create a viable business based on superheated steam torrefaction of forestry and agricultural residues.

Crude oil is getting scarce. This is why researchers are seeking to substitute petroleum-based products – like plastics – with sustainable raw materials. Waste wood, divided into lignin and cellulose, could serve as a raw material. A pilot plant has been set up to handle this division on a larger scale. In a pilot plant at the Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes CBP in Leuna this fractionation is handled on a large scale.

Many products, including food supplements, cosmetics and biodiesel, are made from substances derived from microalgae. A fully automated pilot plant operated by Fraunhofer in Leuna is capable of producing microalgae on pilot scale. The concentration of algae in its reactors is five times higher than in conventional closed reactors.

We place high demands on the quality of our drinking water. If pathogens or toxic substances found their way into the piping system, many people could become infected or injured very quickly. That’s why this risk must be kept low. To do this, experts at Fraunhofer IOSB have developed technologies for a comprehensive monitoring, early warning and emergency management system. Fraunhofer IGB is contributing its know-how in biosensor development.