The need to use renewable raw materials within the chemical and biotechnological industry is continuously increasing. Process intensification makes it possible to describe new processes, to make existing processes more efficient and sustainable or simply to reduce investments and operating costs through innovation. Currently, the research group is divided into two areas, which in turn consider different research projects and ideas: The holistic consideration of hybrid and reactive processes as well as process intensification through innovative methods.
Reactive and hybrid processes
The integration of two unit operations in one apparatus is an innovative method of process intensification. It generally allows an increase in selectivity, direct energy integration and savings in the area of investment and operating costs. The main disadvantages are the increased complexity and restrictions in the operational degrees of freedom. Nevertheless, it is reactive and hybrid processes that enable certain products to be economically presented and obtained in the first place. The aim of this work is not only to demonstrate the experimental feasibility but also to model the individual sub-processes in order to simulate the overall process. Due to the high complexity of these processes, sensitivity studies can be used to demonstrate the potential of the processes and to determine a holistically optimal operating range.
Innovative methods
Process intensification does not necessarily have to focus on holistic processes. Individual new progressive methods also allow traditional processes to be made more effective and efficient.
