Biomass Digestion & Fermentation

The area of “Biomass Digestion & Fermentation” conducts research on the targeted and customised processing of biogenic raw materials and residues, as well as on the development of biobased processes for the further conversion of ingredients into valuable basic materials for the chemical industry or into energy sources.

Main areas of research are:

• Biorefinery systems for the most complete and sustainable use of raw materials.
• Digestion and fractionation of lignocellulose-containing biomass such as straw, grasses and wood.
• Digestion and fractionation of microalgae
• Mechanical, physico-chemical (thermal hydrolysis) and chemical digestion processes in combination with enzymatic processes
• Bioconversion of saccharides in lignocellulosic hydrolysates
• Biogas technology: microbiological and enzymatic hydrolysis, optimisation of process biology

Development of fermentation processes, e.g. for the biosynthesis of alcohols, diols, carboxylic acids, esters and biobased polymers.