The DECHEMA Research Institute — Founded On Tradition, Working For The Future

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The electrochemistry group is active in the development of fuel cell and battery technology, but also in processes for water purification and the development of functional surfaces. And electrochemistry is also an important discipline that plays a part for the development of novel biotechnological production systems: The combination of electrochemistry with enzymes leads to new bioelectrocatalytic processes that are independent of expensive cellular co-factors such as NADPH.

Testing New Materials at the DECHEMA

In the basement of the institute, the high-temperature furnaces are literally glowing. This is where materials are tested and new protective layers are developed. This goes beyond obvious high-temperature applications for airplanes, turbines or cars. Recovering valuable resources from waste is one big issue that calls for robust, long-living high-temperature materials. One current project deals with the use of sewage sludge ashes in fertilizers to recover the contained phosphorous. A prerequisite is the removal of heavy metals in a thermochemical process; so far, no furnace materials are commercially available that can withstand the required conditions over longer periods of time. Researchers at the DECHEMA Institute are developing a new coating concept combining the chemical resistance of corundum with the mechanical properties of an alloy that could be employed in such furnaces. Other projects concern the optimisation of anodisation layers on magnesium with nano particles or the use of the halogen effect in titanaluminides.

Interdisciplinary Research in Any Way

“Our strength is that we are interdisciplinary in every way. Chemists work with engineers, biotechnologists with corrosion researchers. And we are very flexible; we can react quickly to new trends and cooperate with industrial partners without requiring a lot of administration”, says Professor Schütze. A long list of industrial partners underlines this. At the same time as being closely cooperating with the industry, the institute is interlinked both with the community active at DECHEMA and the academic sphere where the senior scientists of the institute have teaching assignments. Thus, the DECHEMA Research Institute brings together knowledge and people from all parts of the chemical engineering and biotechnology community – certainly a key asset in an interlinked and flexible world.

* The author is Head of Public Relations of DECHEMA e.V.

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