Projects
This page lists the projects in which the CMT is currently involved, in alphabetical order. Beyond that, the center is involved in the preparation and planning of numerous future projects.
200%E
The BMBF-funded project 200%E aims to establish a novel value-added chain for the industrial production of food additives based on cellulosic biomass. For this purpose, the disaccharide cellobiose will be converted electrochemically. In order to use of the energy invested in the electrochemical process optimally, the starting material cellobiose will be processed into valuable chemical products at both electrodes simultaneously. Subject of the exploratory phase are the feasibility of the chemical conversion technology, the planning of the process control and optimization as well as the preparation of a first market analysis.
As part of the exploratory phase, CMT was particularly involved in preparation of the feasibility phase proposal.
ACalNet 2.0
In the frame of the ACalNet 2.0 program, selected doctoral candidates from medical, technical or natural science subjects are given the opportunity to do research at partner universities in California. The funds for the travel allowances come from the International Office. The CMT coordinates the program with financial support from the profile area ECPE.
Bio4MatPro
The Bio4MatPro competence center will deal with the application of biologically inspired principles, the use of bio-based materials as well as with the development of the necessary processes and machines for mass production, thus promoting the structural change in the Rhenish Revier into a model region for the bioeconomy. Bio4MatPro will be lead by Prof. Ulrich Schwaneberg, the consortium has a broad base with 18 partners from science and industry in the region.
The CMT is centrally involved in the application process and will be integrated into the office of the competence center to be set up. Bio4MatPro has now received the third star in the SofortprogrammPLUS.
BioSC
The Bioeconomy Science Center, for short BioSC, promotes research on food and feed, on the chemical use of biomass, on the energetic use of biomass, as well as on bio-based materials. The newly developed methods are confirmed while the economic and ecological implications are taken into account – in parallel to the ongoing research. The Science Center is a first answer to the challenge of a future knowledge-based bioeconomy.
The NRW strategy project BioSC is funded by the NRW state government. Several financial instruments have been installed to promote research on the above topics between partners and disciplines. Partners in BioSC are RWTH Aachen University, HHU Düsseldorf, University of Bonn and Forschungszentrum Jülich.
The CMT serves as the central communication office at the RWTH between the participating departments and administrative units as well as the project sponsor. The cumulated calls for funds and proofs of usage are issued here. The administration of this complex project is centralized at CMT.
Carbon2Chem®
Carbon2Chem® is a large-scale joint project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The project involves partners from the chemical, energy and steel industries from all over Germany who are creating a completely new collaboration between the most important national industries.
The aim of the project is the utilization of emissions from steel production as raw materials for the chemical industry. For this purpose, surplus energy from renewable sources shall be used. This can make a significant contribution to climate protection and the energy transition. The second phase of Carbon2Chem®, starting from Juni 1st, 2020, will validate the developed processes for large-scale implementation and thus lay the foundation for a low-emission steel production.
The CMT is responsible for the administrative support of a sub-project of Carbon2Chem®.
Fuel Science Center
The increasing availability of non-fossil energy technologies opens unprecedented possibilities to re-design the interface of energy and material value chains towards a sustainable future. The fundamental research in the Cluster of Excellence “The Fuel Science Center – Adaptive Conversion Systems for Renewable Energy and Carbon Sources” (FSC) aims to integrate renewable electricity with the joint utilization of bio-based carbon feedstocks and CO2 to provide high-density liquid energy carriers (“bio-hybrid fuels”), which enable innovative engine concepts for highly efficient and clean combustion. FSC will generate fundamental knowledge as well as novel scientific methodologies to replace today’s fossil fuel-based static scenario by adaptive production and propulsion systems that are based on renewable energy and carbon resources under dynamic system boundaries.
Several CMT members are involved in the FSC.
METAFOR
The BMBF-funded project METAFOR develops an elegant and economical hybrid approach for the electrochemical CO2 reduction to C1 compounds and the subsequent microbial conversion to important bulk chemicals.The methylotrophic yeast Ogataea polymorpha is developed into a platform organism for the conversion of the C1 compounds methanol and formate into valuable products. METAFOR combines the microbial process with an upstream chemical CO2 reduction to formate. The METAFOR strategy directly contributes to solving prominent challenges in C1-based product synthesis and makes a strong contribution to establishing a sustainable bioeconomy and reducing the dependency on chemical production of fossil resources.
Partners at RWTH Aachen University are Professor Lars M. Blank, Professor Walter Leitner and Professor Jochen Büchs. METAFOR started on February 1, 2020.
The CMT was strongly involved in preparing and submitting the second stage application. Furthermore, our center supports coordination and meeting organization.
QuinCAT
North Rhine-Westphalia is a country with a leading international research community and a world-class chemical industry. Even in the important chemical industry, the path from the idea to the product is still long and difficult, also due to the lack of space for start-up projects. The European Union has identified these obstacles as a core problem, as well: in the European Union, the Technology Readiness Level, short TRL, describes the path of an idea to a product on the market. The transition from TRL 4 to 7 is seen as a bottleneck. It is called the Valley of Death.
The purpose of the QuinCAT concept is to overcome this valley by bridging the gap between university and industry through a business start-up and incubation space designed for chemical researchers with a desire to set up a business. The construction project QuinCAT will create state-of-the-art laboratory and office space in order to bring scientific knowledge, concepts and projects in the field of Green Chemistry to market maturity.
The EFRE project QuinCAT is located at the CMT.
SusChemSys 2.0
SusChemSys 2.0 is an interdisciplinary network between chemistry and process engineering for doctoral students from various universities and research institutions in NRW. The program enables overarching activities such as joint meetings, industry excursions and soft skill workshops. In particular, networking - with doctoral students from other disciplines and institutions as well as professors and industry representatives - enriches the education of doctoral candidates.
SusChemSys 2.0 is coordinated by the CMT.