Achema 2018 - Fraunhofer IGB

Frankfurt am Main / June 11, 2018 - June 15, 2018

Achema | Fair

Hall 9.2, Booth D66

At ACHEMA 2018, Fraunhofer IGB will present its broad range of services in the fields of "Material Separation / Separation Technologies", "Biobased Chemicals and Materials / Biorefineries" and "Electrosynthesis / Electricity as a Raw Material".

We look forward to meeting you at the Fraunhofer joint stand in Hall 9.2, booth D66.

The Fraunhofer spin-off company Variolytics will present a new real-time mass spectrometer called foxySPEC at the ACHEMA-Gründerpreis-Gemeinschaftsstand.

We look forward to your visit in hall 9.2, booth C84.

Selective material separation

Membrane adsorber REM. — © Fraunhofer IGB

Membranes and membrane adsorbers

At Fraunhofer IGB we develop and modify membranes for a wide range of applications. For example, we have developed heat-stable ceramic membranes for the separation of hydrogen or oxygen. With newly developed mixed-matrix membranes we remove dissolved molecular pollutants adsorptively. By combining different particles, the separation properties of the regenerable membrane adsorbers can be flexibly adapted for applications in the areas of drinking water, process water and waste water.

Electrophoretic separation processes for desalination and fractionation of charged molecules

Electrochemical (membrane) processes are suitable for the separation of salt ions. The separation processes can be economically integrated into the process chain for the recovery of recyclable materials, recycling of process auxiliaries and waste water treatment. Fraunhofer IGB has developed electrodialysis, capacitive deionization (CDI), free-flow electrophoresis and electro membrane filtration.

Biorefinery concepts and biobased economy

Torrefaction of lignocellulose with superheated steam

How the energetic and material use of wood can be optimized is shown by torrefaction with superheated steam. This process increases the mass-related energy density and thus achieves a higher calorific value. The pellets produced in this way are regarded as the ideal additional fuel for power plants with pulverized coal firing. The torrefied products can also be used for subsequent material use.

Biobased chemicals and materials

At Fraunhofer IGB we are engaged in the development of processes for the production of platform and fine chemicals from biogenic raw and residual materials. Questions on the efficient use of biogenic residual and waste streams are answered as well as the development of processes for the production of biobased chemicals and products. We investigate derivatized and functionalized raw materials as well as the production of drop-in and platform chemicals as important intermediates or fine chemicals and specialties.

With the pilot plants available at Fraunhofer CBP, developed processes can be scaled up, validated and optimized for industrial implementation. We provide sample quantities on a kilogram and ton scale for technical application tests.

High-value compounds from microalgae

Fraunhofer IGB develops processes for the production of various products from microalgae such as carotenoids (fucoxanthin, astaxanthin), omega-3 fatty acids (EPA), proteins and triglycerides for food, feed and cosmetics in flat panel airlift (FPA) reactors. In a fully automated pilot plant at Fraunhofer CBP in Leuna, algae cultivation can be carried out on a large scale in a total of 110 reactors with a volume of 11.7 cubic meters.

Nutrient recovery: Fertilizers from wastewater, raw manure, and biogenic residues

As the main components of fertilizers, nutrients are indispensable for global food production. Fraunhofer IGB develops sustainable and cost-efficient technologies to recover nutrients from wastewater, manure and fermentation residues as well as from waste streams in food production. The processes are implemented up to the pilot scale. The ePhos process and the BioEcoSIM process are about to be launched on the market.

Biobased Economy

Drying and torrefaction of biobased products (lignocellulosic biomass, solid manure, solid digestate, mud, biogenic residues…) with selective recovery of volatile compounds for energetic use and production of green chemicals
Nutrient (P, N) recovery from wastewater, raw manure, and biogenic residues
Carotenoids (fucoxanthin, astaxanthin), omega-3 fatty acids (EPA), proteins and triglycerides for food, feed and cosmetics from microalgae
Biobased chemicals and materials (Phenols from Lignin, organic acids, microbial biosurfactants, biobased epoxides, proteins, secondary plant ingredients, LC-fibers, PU-foams, epoxy resins, special polysaccharides)

Scale-up of chemical and biotechnological processes

Integrated pilot units for pretreatment, extraction and fractionation of biomass (lignocellulosics, and plant oils)
Fermentation capacities up to 10 m³ for cultivation of bacteria, yeast and fungi
Scaling of phototrophic processes under outdoor conditions (Cyanobacteria and microalgae)
High-pressure technologies for conversion of biobased feedstocks / materials (lignin, sugar, fatty acids)
Broad range of pilot equipment for mechanical and thermal separation and purification

Electricity as a raw material: Power-to-chemicals

© Fraunhofer IGB
Electrochemical cell for CO₂ reduction.

In order to compensate for electricity peaks during renewable energy conversion from wind or sun, excess electricity can also be used for the decentralized production of chemicals. Fraunhofer IGB develops catalysts, membranes and suitable electrodes, electrolysis processes and apparatus. In the Fraunhofer lighthouse project "Electricity as a raw material", Fraunhofer IGB has developed a new one-step process and implemented it in a demonstrator to produce ethene electrochemically from CO₂ and water in just one process step.

Innovative real-time process analysis

foxySPEC Echtzeit-Massenspektrometer — © Fraunhofer IGB

With the newly developed real-time mass spectrometer foxySPEC, up to 30 components can bei detected simultaneously from the gas phase and a liquid, with a sensitivity in the lower ppm range thanks to a special, patented inlet system.

The foxySPEC mass spectrometer will be demonstrated at the ACHEMA Founder Award joint stand in Hall 9.2, booth C84.

Events and trade fairs