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2013|14 Annual Report Fraunhofer IGB

31 institutes are also cooperating closely on developing the reac- tors for the technology platform. The three different concepts being pursued are a microfluidic platform with separate com- partments, a “continuous exchange cell-free system“ within hollow-fiber reactors, and upscaling in single-chamber reac- tors. E3 production Against a background of competitiveness and social develop- ment (demographic change), and also of climate protection and conservation of resources, organizations have to meet the challenge not only of realizing resource- and energy-efficient processes and products, but also of producing in an overall sustainable, low-environmental-impact way under ergonomic conditions. This gives rises to three important pillars for the factory of the future: energy and resource efficiency, emission neutrality, and ergonomics (integration of people in produc- tion) – summarized as E3 . The lighthouse project “E3 production” addresses these three pillars and focuses, notably, on the design and implementa- tion of ultra-short process chains, the operation of production systems that can adapt their use of energy and resources to a volatile energy supply, the establishing of closed-loop material cycles, and the use of production itself to store energy, includ- ing the integration of materials. With regard to the reduction of emissions, approaches being examined include completely closed-loop energy and material re-use cycles, and also the recovery of energy, culminating in self-regulated recycling. The Fraunhofer IGB’s contribution is the demonstration of ultra-short production processes used in biotechnology and process engineering, as shown by the example of a reac- tor concept for the bioprecipitation of metals. The concept has the aim of facilitating integration of the bioprecipitation process into existing process chains, while at the same time taking the required product quality into account. Featuring internal recycling and loop closure, it will thus contribute to overall resource efficiency. The project involves the collabora- tion of the Fraunhofer institutes FIT, IBP, ICT, IFF, ILT, IML, IPA, IPK, IPT, IWU, UMSICHT and IGB. 2 2

Overview