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ePaper created 2017-03-14, 10:25:37 | version 1.49.03
New techniques for example, enable us to selectively separate mixtures of inorganic raw materials (metals, rare earths) on a molecular or atomic level. Using new processes, important nutrients such as phosphorus and ammonium can be recovered from wastewater, sewage sludge, fermentation residues or liquid manure to be used as fertilizers. We process the residual low-nutrient organic fractions to obtain humus-forming soil conditioners. Energy conversion and storage To tap new regenerative energy sources, we develop innovative membrane technologies, for example for eficient ethanol fuel cells or economically viable osmotic power plants. For the energy system turnaround to succeed, storing excess power must be practicable. For this purpose, we develop catalytic processes to convert electrical energy – especially by binding and reducing CO2 – to chemical energy reservoirs, for example longer-chained hydrocarbons. In many cases, waste heat that results from power generation and many industrial processes remains unused. To make excess waste heat available for temporally and spatially decoupled heat requirements, Fraunhofer IGB is working on thermo-chemical sorption systems for the long-term storage of heat. Bioenergy The eficient generation of biogas from sewage sludge using anaerobic technologies is a key is- sue at IGB. We have already converted several sewage treatment plants of different sizes to our high-load digestion process, thus making them self-suficient energy operations. We also use our know-how about the fermentation of organic substances for the reutilization of residual matter from the food industry and agriculture. Small mass lows are becoming increasingly interesting as the energy sector is decentralized. However, biogas – a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide – is not just used to generate power and heat in combined heat and power (CHP) units. We therefore investigate absorption and membrane processes that bind CO2 with high capacity to separate highly puriied methane from biogas as a basic raw material or fuel. 9 2