The efficient and effective use of renewable raw materials requires new and scalable processes that have to be closely linked to existing production structures. The Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes CBP in Leuna bridges the gap between laboratory and industrial implementation. By providing infrastructure and pilot plant facilities, the Fraunhofer CBP enables cooperation partners from research and industry to develop and scale up biotechnological and chemical processes so that renewable raw materials can be utilized on an industrial scale.
The center has modular fermentation capacities of up to 10 m³ and a wide range of processing technologies. Its building, totaling more than 2000 sqm, was completed in 2012 and inaugurated on October 2nd at a ceremony attended by Chancellor Angela Merkel.
As part of joint projects with partners from industry, universities and non-university research institutions, the center focuses on the following research aspects:
- Digestion processes for lignocelluloses to obtain extractives, hemicelluloses, lignins and celluloses
- Development of fermentation processes to produce organic acids, solvents and new technical enzymes/cultivation and processing of microalgae to produce high-quality ingredients
- Chemocatalytic conversions and derivatizations of biogenic substrates, for example lignin, into aromatic molecular building blocks or for use in epoxide and acrylate systems
- Development of processing methods to produce high-quality extractives, fine chemicals and fermentation products
