Stimuli-responsive gels are widely known in the field of intelligent materials. Depending on environmental changes, these gels undergo configurational changes. The gels can swell or collapse due to the occurring trigger. This special characteristic as well as the possible utilization of 3-D printing methods for customized shaped gels offer a wide range of potential applications. The overall goal of this project is the application of smart gels in different separation processes to provide self-regulating features and reach autonomous reactor control.

• Application of stimuli-responsive gels for autonomous reactor control: Experimental and theoretical analysis

Aerogels are lightweight materials with unique properties. They are characterized by a very low density and high interconnected porosity with a large inner surface. Their special characteristics enable the application in many different areas. Although aerogels are being used successfully in industry, large-scale production is still a challenging issue due to the use of supercritical CO2. Therefore, the goal of this project is the scale-up of the existing manufacturing process to large-scale production.

• Scale-up of the existing manufacturing process for the aerogel production: Plant construction and aerogel production