idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
idw - Informationsdienst
Wissenschaft
The aim is to turn waste from local agriculture into high-quality materials that can be reused as membranes, coatings or packaging, for example. Four young researchers at TU Bergakademie Freiberg have been working on this since 1 November in the new BioWin junior research group. The team sees potential for implementation in over 18,000 bioeconomy companies in Saxony. In addition to manufacturing the innovative products in the laboratory, the young scientists are also testing whether the recycled materials are sustainable and economical.
The young researchers are focusing in particular on rapeseed straw, fruit pomace and potato peelings as well as three manufacturing processes in which fibres in the micrometre or nanometre range and defined layers can be obtained. The biogenic residues are first broken down into their individual components using sustainable mechanical processes and green solvents. These are then recombined into new materials for specific applications using electrospinning, wet spinning or spray coating.
"Ultimately, we want to utilise as much as possible from the complex structure of the biomass and use green chemistry with sustainable processes to do so. The practical work in the laboratory is combined with a detailed economic and sustainability analysis. We are sustainability enthusiasts and that is exactly what makes the BioWin project and our junior research group so special," explains the head of the junior research group, Dr Vanessa Castro.
Providing an evaluation model
The junior researchers from the economic sciences are investigating how companies in Saxony can use the new materials and processes to upcycle the residues in an economical and sustainable way. The simulations and potential analyses are to be made available to interested partners from research and industry in a database.
The young researchers not only acquire specialist skills, but also deal with topics such as networking and business start-ups as well as diversity and gender equality. The junior research group will also contribute to the Freiberg Center for Circular Economy (FCCE) as an overarching centre of excellence in the field of circular economy at TUBAF.
EU and state of Saxony support young scientists
The costs for the project, totalling around 1.2 million euros, are being financed by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF Plus) and tax revenue from the budget approved by the Saxon state parliament. The aim of the programmes is to strengthen a stable, sustainable and digital economy and improve the training of skilled workers in the Free State of Saxony.
Dr. Katja Heise, katja.heise@esm.tu-freiberg.de
Dr. Vanessa Castro (middle) and docoral students Anthony Gerhardt, Emmanuel Udekwe Nwanegbo, Una Sma ...
Quelle: Andreas Hiekel
Copyright: TU Bergakademie Freiberg / A. Hiekel
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