Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB
Catalysts are indispensable and omnipresent in chemical industry and industrial biotechnology. They accelerate chemical reactions by reducing the activation energy, thus enabling the selective and efficient synthesis of products.
The innovation field "Catalysts" is working on the development of chemical, electrochemical and biotechnological catalysts for the sustainable production of chemicals and fuels from renewable resources.
In so-called CCU processes (Carbon Capture and Utilization), carbon dioxide (CO2) is converted by means of heterogeneous catalysis and electrocatalysis into C1 intermediates, ethene and higher hydrocarbons. Furthermore, catalysts are developed for ammonia synthesis, reforming processes and the oxidative conversion of organic educts.
The C1 intermediates obtained, such as methanol or formate, are used as substrates in whole-cell catalytic processes for the fermentative synthesis of value-added products.