The department carries out research and development in the following five areas:

Reaction and separation techniques
In the field of reaction and separation, platform chemicals and monomers are produced from sustainable raw materials. Among other methods, industrial (white) biotechnology is applied. In the context of material and process-related research, the institute is developing continuous processes to convert biogenic raw materials, such as starches, sugars, cellulose or lignin, into fine chemicals (phenol units, polyols, carboxylic acids) and polymers (polyurethane, polyester and polyamides). As a result of increasing interest in sustainable raw materials, the realisation of recycling processes with lignocellulose-containing materials appears increasingly achievable. Some initial research relating to integrated decomposition processes and integrated component separation has already been carried out, and is being continually developed. In addition, mechanical and thermal separation methods are being applied for the educts and synthesis products. The department has wide-ranging experience in the analysis of sustainable raw materials, which forms a basis for this research.

Polymers and additives
In the production of polymers and additives, emphasis is placed on the synthesis of polymers. Beside this, chemical material synthesis is used to create particular polymer properties such as flame retardancy without the use of halogen-containing flame retardants. In addition, cleaning, impregnation and coating processes for polymers are investigated.

Recycling and waste management
The research unit for recycling and waste management investigates solutions for the recycling of plastics and material compounds, from the development of concepts through to the design (check!) of materials and components containing recyclate. To complement this research, processes are being developed for emission-optimised materials and components, and qualified according to specifications using analytical methods relating to waste materials, processes and emissions.

Environmental simulation and product qualification
The department for environmental simulation and product qualification offers a comprehensive spectrum of services for the qualification of materials, components and complete products. This service includes climate, vibration and shock tests, dust tests and tests with corrosive gasses, solar simulation and chemical stability tests. Beside standard testing, the department also offers tailored testing regarding service limits, as well as the further development and investigation of standardised tests from a scientific perspective.

Sustainable raw materials
Sustainability in the environmental sector is an interdisciplinary topic requiring a high level of research and development. Solutions developed must be both ecologically and economically attractive. This is the focus of the research unit for sustainable raw materials. Interdisciplinary teams consisting of chemical and process engineers, chemists and physicists, are working to develop new concepts for sustainable production, as well as environmentally-friendly production and manufacturing technologies involving sustainable raw materials.