2012|13 Annual Report Fraunhofer IGB

FRAUNHOFER PROJECT GROUP BIOCAT The focus of the Project Group BioCat is on developing cata- lytic processes and new, renewables-based products to enable a sustainable future supply of raw materials and energy to in- dustry and society. In researching the utilization of biomass and CO2, the project group employs key technologies from the ﬁelds of chemical catalysis and white biotechnology, as well as a combination of chemical and bio-catalysis. As part of these activities, the group also establishes and implements new methods for creating and optimizing (bio)catalysts. These catalysts can be used, for instance, for the conversion of ter- penes – obtained from plants and residual materials in wood processing – into epoxides and monomers for the polymer in- dustry. Further examples are the use of the biopolymer lignin, found in the secondary cell walls of plants, to produce mono- mers for conductive polymers, and synthesizing functional- ized carboxylic acids and biobased surfactants from plant oils and fatty acids. The group’s goal is to achieve optimum added value in transforming biomass raw material into biobased end products. Additionally, the group is involved in developing new methods for using and storing surplus electric energy, for instance by binding CO2 and converting it into fuels. It is vital that we turn our efforts today, and no later, to devel- oping the next generation of catalysts and processes that will enable us to replace crude oil with biomass and CO2 as key sources of raw materials. BioCat aims to accelerate this trend in “sustainable” chemistry and make a decisive contribution to the ﬁeld. Its approach is to develop new chemical and biocat- alytic processes for the material utilization of renewable raw materials, focusing on identifying ways of combining chemical and biotechnological methods that can optimally exploit the material diversity of biomass. Besides wide-ranging expertise in biotechnology (enzyme technology, fermentations, screening of biocatalysts) and chemistry (organic synthesis, analytics, homogeneous and het- erogeneous catalysis), the BioCat Project Group, which is com- posed of biotechnologists, molecular biologists and chem- ists specialized in catalysis and synthesis, can offer in-depth knowledge in the ﬁeld of biogenic raw materials and natural materials. By pooling these interdisciplinary specializations, we are able not only to provide scientiﬁc and technical consulting services, but also to carry out work in the analytics, research and development of new materials, new reactions and new catalysts as well as the optimization of existing catalysts and processes, offering close cooperation with our customers. Combining bio- and chemical catalysis is carried out in close cooperation with the TU München, the Fraunhofer IGB de- partments and with the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT in Pﬁnztal. Collaborative projects offer an op- portunity to address the conversion of renewables and thus, for instance, set new impulses for the biopolymer industry. COMPETENCES 5 4

2012|13 Annual Report Fraunhofer IGB

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