Completed Projects

A part of the project aimed at integrating saccharide-containing waste streams from agro-industrial processing into an established enzyme cascade and optimizing it for the profitable production of bulk and/or platform chemicals. For this purpose, the enzyme cascade was further developed and adapted for the utilization of lactose (milk sugar). Two cascade variants were examined, both converting saccharides into ethanol or isobutanol through multiple enzymatically catalyzed steps. The cascade variant for ethanol production was successfully implemented using lactose from dairy wastewater, achieving a lactose conversion rate of over 90% and a galactose conversion rate of over 50%. In the overall cascade for ethanol formation, yields of up to 66.4% were obtained. For the cascade variant synthesizing isobutanol, improvements to the cascade enzyme KARI were addressed. A comprehensive system for the production, preselection, and ultra-high-throughput screening of this enzyme class was developed, serving as an essential foundation for providing new, highly efficient biocatalysts.

Another part of the project focused on the extraction and modification of proteins from process streams in agro-industrial processing, with an emphasis on integrating the technology into existing production processes. The focus was on the separation of proteins from process water (potato fruit water) in potato starch production. New regulations in legislation complicate the agricultural use of such nitrogen-containing waste streams, necessitating better protein recovery. As part of the project, the industrial process chain for protein separation via heat coagulation was transferred to a laboratory scale, and the influence of potato variety and cultivation conditions on protein separation was investigated. Overall, an overview of the range of nitrogen contents in potato fruit water from starch potatoes and their heat precipitation properties was obtained. These findings provide an initial basis for potential breeding programs to develop potato varieties that not only yield high starch content but also exhibit improved protein precipitation characteristics. Additionally, an enzyme-based method for improving protein separation during heat coagulation was demonstrated.

Over 80% of the paints and varnishes produced in Europe each year (almost 1 million tonnes) are based on fossil raw materials. Reducing the impact of these paints and varnishes would be a major step forward in terms of Europe's climate protection ambitions. PERFECOAT is tackling this challenge by developing and validating a new generation of industrial wood and decorative paints with over 25% bio-based content. The project focuses on three important, high-volume market segments: UV-crosslinkable clear coats and water-based do-it-yourself wall and architectural paints. TUM is contributing with its technologies in the field of microbial polysaccharides and microbial pigments and fillers.