Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB
Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB

Equipment

Analytics

Biological and polymer analytics

  • MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometer (Bruker Ultraflex II)
  • Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
  • Simultaneous thermoanalysis (STA)
  • Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) with 4 detectors

 

Particle analysis

  • Microelectrophoresis (zeta potential)
  • Dynamic light scattering (SLS, mastersizer, measuring range 0.1 nm to 10 μm)
  • Static light scattering (SLS, mastersizer, measuring range 50 nm to 2 mm)
  • Miniplants with inline analytics

 

Surface characteristics and morphology

  • Ellipsometry
  • Microscopy, scanning electron microscope (REM), atomic force microscopy (AFM)
  • Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA)
  • Mini- and nano-spray dryer for the formulation of particles
  • High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
  • Titration microcalorimetry

Formulations

  • Dynamic light scattering
  • Ellipsometry
  • MALDI TOF mass spectrometry
  • Microcalorimetry
  • Digital imaging
  • Laboratory synthesis

Mini plant systems

Demonstration plant for the separation of minor components from vegetable oil.
Figure 3: Demonstration plant for the separation of minor components from vegetable oil.

For R&D projects a test plant is available, which is specialized in the separation of different minor components of seed or vegetable oil, plant extracts and biodiesel. The plants or seeds can be used directly at the oil mill site, in the plant processing industry or by biofuel producers.

The test plant developed for the separation of valuable and impurities in vegetable oils can be transferred to further separation tasks for biobased oils or plant extracts by adapting the polymeric adsorber material. To increase the adsorption surface, in future it will also be possible to use packing materials with lower packing densities and a lower free volume.