Fiber recovery, the utilization of organic residues produced in the process, and the recovery of inorganic recyclables are important components of the efficient use of natural resources. In Impulse Project 8, these work objectives and focal points set in the completed Impulse Project 1 (Research Focus 1) will be explored in greater depth. The following aspects will be considered in more detail:
- Investigation of the role of special bacteria and fungi in fiber extraction with the aim of optimizing the fiber extraction process by targeted use of the most important microorganisms and obtaining high-quality natural fibers.
- Provision of basic chemicals (sugars, acids) for the production of bio-based plastics or their precursors. This approach should make it possible to partially or completely substitute fossil sources with renewable raw materials, and to reduce the manufacturing costs of plastics by using lower-cost alternative raw materials.
- Development of an environmentally friendly recycling technology for natural fiber-reinforced plastics using special fiber-decomposing fungi.
- Development of concepts for the material/energy utilization of sewage sludge and other waste streams from agriculture and the food industry.
- Development of a database for natural fibers with data on, among other things, the geometry and strength of the fibers, and thus the determination of the utilization potential of regional raw materials.
Objective: The technology to be developed in the impulse project 8 is to enable the extraction of fibers, as well as the holistic material-energetic utilization of all components of the plant material. By utilizing this enormous value-added potential, sustainable production of various valuable by-products can be realized, which corresponds to the concept of biorefineries.
