Reference projects

On June 1, 2020, the BioSPRINT project - “Biorefining of sugars through process intensification” - started in an unfamiliar environment. At the kick-off meeting online, project goals and measures were discussed for the 4-year project, which has a financial volume of 6.1 million euros and in which 12 partners are researching bio-based synthetic resins made from hemicellulose under the patronage of DECHEMA.

Funding: BMELV || Duration: May 2009 – April 2012 || The objective of the integrated project is to increase the use of renewable resources and, in the long term, to convert chemical production processes for the production of synthesized building blocks to renewable resources. By means of an integrated development along the whole value creation chain from the pilot scale through to production scale the aim is to implement an integrated production on the basis of renewable resources.

Funding: BMEL; FNR || Duration: June 2016 – May 2019 || The goal of the 2GEnzymes project is to design an integrated process for the production of second generation sugars using ligninolytic enzymes and novel cellulases. In order to increase the economic efficiency of the organosolv process, a fermentation process was developed and scaled to obtain cellulases from Penicillium verruculosum. This allowed cellulase production to be integrated into the overall process, avoiding the cost-intensive use of commercial enzymes.

Funding: BMBF || Duration: April 2018 – April 2021 || In order to operate biorefineries sustainably and economically, the conversion of lignin into high-quality products is essential. Based on this motivation, the project aims to investigate and scale-up various lignin extraction and depolymerization processes that preserve the structure and functionality of lignin. Thus, novel, previously inaccessible aromatic structures with new functionalities and thus a new performance spectrum will be identified, which can be used in a variety of industrial applications.

BMFTR || Duration: August 2025 – July 2026 || AlkaEx assesses the technical and legal feasibility of safely extracting alkaloids from ergot. The project aims to unlock valuable bioactive compounds and build new, sustainable value chains linking the food and pharmaceutical sectors in Central Germany.

Funding: state Saxony-Anhalt; IB LSA || Duration: July 2016 – June 2019 || In order to connect for instance wood or cork, mostly petroleum-based adhesive systems are used. Non-natural chemicals are also used to protect the natural materials against microbial infestation as well as fire loads. Thus, the ecological potential of the wood and cork products are reduced.

Funding: IB LSA | Duration: January 2019 – December 2021 || In this project, a multifunctional coating system based on cationic surfactants made from vegetable oil for heat storage tanks, pipes and conveyor belts was developed. The basis is a colloidal system of low molecular weight components in which higher molecular weight aromatic components are dispersed as micelles in water.

Funding: BMBF; PTJ; Spitzencluster BioEconomy || Duration: October 2015 – June 2017 || Within the project Bio-M a new flexible and sustainable process for the production of bioethanol from biogenic carbon dioxide and "green" hydrogen is to be developed and their technical feasibility as well as industrial relevance to be demonstrated.

Funding: BMBF; PTJ; Spitzencluster BioEconomy || Duration: September 2014 – June 2017 || The focus within this project is the synthesis of 100 percent bio-based Solketal (Isopropylidene glycerol) carried out in a semi-continuous reactor. Solketal can be catalyzed from glycerol and acetone under acidic conditions. This synthesis was developed in a laboratory scale by the GLACONCHEMIE GmbH using biogenic glycerol (purely vegetable, by-product from the biodiesel production).

Funding: EU || Duration: January 2012 – December 2015 || BioConSepT aims to demonstrate the technically feasibility of White Biotech processes for the conversion of 2nd generation biomass into platform chemicals. BioConSepT uses lignocellulose and non-edible oils & fats as cheap, abundantly available feedstocks, which cannot be used as food.