Carbon Utilization and Mineralization

Produktentwicklung am Fraunhofer UMSICHT
© Fraunhofer UMSICHT

The core of the department is the product-related development, modification and functionalization of material systems. The focus is on plastics and natural materials such as leather, wood and stone. Our range of services includes coating and particle technology as well as compounding, crushing and adding various materials. Our long-standing expertise is the use of compressed carbon dioxide as a solvent and dispersing agent. With an eye to industrial feasibility, we will accompany you from laboratory scale to industrial scale.
 

Building Materials

By modifying or incorporating functional additives, we tailor material systems for innovative applications in the construction sector. Examples include self-repairing polymer and sealing systems, microcapsules, hollow microspheres, impregnated building materials, organometallic functional materials, and substrates for greening and mossing. One of the unique selling points is the operation of testing facilities to weather materials with regard to biogenic sulfuric acid corrosion.

Carbon Dioxide Processes

We develop and functionalize a wide range of materials from polymers to natural materials such as leather. The focus of our work is the use of compressed carbon dioxide for material impregnation, monomer or natural substance extraction and as a carbon source for mineralization and the production of valuable organic products. Other core competencies are the addition of additives to plastics, the functionalization of polymer surfaces and the customized production of powders for various applications by cryogenic comminution. Our process developments range from the laboratory to industrial scale.

 

Information material of the department Carbon Utilization and Mineralization | Reference projects of the department Carbon Utilization and Mineralization

Information material of the department Carbon Utilization and Mineralization

 

Gas adsorption

For the characterization of the pore structure of solids

 

Greening of urban sites

System for ground-independent vertical greening   

 

Sulfuric Acid Corrosion (BSA)

Material testing: Weathering tests on the resistance of materials to biogenic sulfuric acid corrosion BSA.

 

Cleantan®

From tradition to innovation in the tanning of leather! CO2 tanning - wastewater-free and resource-efficient

 

Cryogenic grinding

Full service in designing your customized powder products

 

Q-TE-C®

Swellable Thermoplast-Elastomer-Composites

Reference projects of the department Carbon Utilization and Mineralization

 

Vertical water sponge

Mineral water storage elements on building facades

Fraunhofer UMSICHT has developed a vertical retention system with a mineral water storage tank that can be installed on facades, for example. This allows the many unused areas in densely populated areas to be put to ideal use.

 

ZEROES

Climate-neutral building materials as CO2 sink

The ZEROES project aims to use biogenic carbon from organic residues as a carbon sink for the production of concrete and bricks. In addition, the incorporation of CO2 into bricks offers the potential to pave the way for a climate-neutral construction industry.  

 

 

Aerolight

New manufacturing process for aerogel insulation material

The aim of the "Aerolight" project is to develop a cost-effective manufacturing process for aerogels and new formulations. Aerogels are thus to be made usable in various applications in the field of thermal insulation systems, lightweight concretes and sandwich elements for facades and roof elements.

 

NuKoS

Utilization of carbon dioxide in slags

Slags from steel production are to be processed for further use with the aid of CO2. The aim is to use the slags to produce higher-value products for the construction, plastics and paper industries. 

 

CO2Cycle

Binding of CO2 through the production of carbonates

The CO2Cycle project is developing an innovative process for the use of CO2 to produce precipitated calcium carbonate (R-PCC) from process waste gases and construction waste. This conserves resources and promotes the circular economy in the building materials industry.

 

Bau-DNS

Circular building refurbishment

Many processes in the construction sector are not networked with each other, especially when it comes to renovating buildings. The aim of the "Bau-DNS" (Construction DNS) project is therefore to increase productivity in building renovation and reduce costs - through digitalization, sustainability and systemic production.

 

Building applications

Mushroom materials

Bio-based materials based on residual materials are an important component of a sustainable bioeconomy and contribute to the raw material turnaround. Fraunhofer UMSICHT has many years of experience with the production of fungal materials as a biogenic material source.

 

CLEANTAN®

Environmentally friendly tanning

Environmentally friendly, sustainable and cost-effective: New plant and process technology reduces leather tanning costs and completely eliminates the production of chromium-contaminated wastewater.

 

Vertical greening

Vertical greening in urban areas

Vertical greening with positive influence on urban climate and excellent noise protection properties: Novel mineral-based system can be used flexibly thanks to modular design.

 

InnoLeder

Color-flexible sustainable leather dyeing

The “InnoLeder” research project aims to revolutionize the traditional dyeing of leather with an innovative, water-free and CO2-based method.