The research group contributes to the provision of climate-neutral and CO2-negative energy sources for the future production of fuels and basic chemical feedstocks. As the only renewable carbon source, biomass plays a special role among renewable energy sources. Through thermochemical processes, biomass from a wide variety of sources can be converted into platform chemicals, materials, and energy sources. Wet and dry residual biomass, energy crops, and microalgae are used in these processes. The focus of research and development efforts is on pyrolysis and solvolysis processes. Process development combines experimental and theoretical approaches, thereby allowing the processes to be tailored to the respective feedstocks and desired products. Based on a fundamental understanding of the chemical reaction mechanisms, processes for producing solid, liquid, and gaseous products are developed up to the pilot plant scale (TRL 5), and the products are processed and conditioned for selected applications.
The group’s work is carried out by the following teams:
Topic 1: Pyrolysis and solvolysis processes (Dr. Axel Funke)
Topic 2: Characterization and Catalytic Upgrading of Pyrolysis Products (Dr. Klaus Raffelt)
Topic 3: Hydrothermale und Solvolytische Biomassespaltung (Dr. Ursel Hornung)
