Transformation from a linear waste management system to a circular economy
The goal of Prof. Kathrin Greiff’s ANTS research group is to transform our current linear waste management system into a circular economy, where materials previously considered waste are redefined as valuable resources. ANTS utilizes sensor technology and AI to analyze material flows and develops dynamic material flow models that link ecological, economic, and technical data […]
New Publication in Trends in Biotechnology:
Advances in Synthetic Methanotrophy.
A recent review article in Trends in Biotechnology presents a comprehensive analysis of the current state of synthetic methanotrophy. The work was carried out by two catalaix research teams, the Synthetic Microbiology group at iAMB and the Chair of Biochemical Engineering (BioAVT) at RWTH Aachen University, in collaboration with colleagues from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin […]
PI workshop with an external presentation by Dr. Raoul Meys, co-founder of carbon minds
Da die chemische Industrie zunehmend auf klimafreundlichere Produktionsverfahren und Nachhaltigkeit umstellt, ist die Durchführung effektiver Lebenszyklusanalysen (LCAs) ein wichtiger Aspekt, der berücksichtigt werden muss. Diese Analysen erfordern oft fundiertes Fachwissen, große Datenmengen und die richtigen digitalen Tools, um aussagekräftige Erkenntnisse zu liefern. Unser letzter PI-Workshop begann mit einem externen Vortrag von Dr. Raoul Meys, Mitbegründer […]
Strategy for the development of sustainable, high-performance thermoplastic polyurethanes
A new publication, co-authored by catalaix core team member Prof. Dr. Lars M. Blank from the Institute of Applied Microbiology, presents an innovative strategy for developing sustainable, high-performance thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs). This work demonstrates how biotechnology and polymer chemistry can jointly create a genuine alternative to petroleum-based plastics and opens up new perspectives for a […]
Plastics Recycling and Upcycling GRC (Gordon Research Conferences) From waste to valuable material – the future of plastics.
The Plastics Recycling and Upcycling GRC (Gordon Research Conferences) is a leading international scientific conference dedicated to promoting cutting-edge research in plastics recycling and upcycling. The five-day event took place in July in Manchester, New Hampshire (USA) (https://www.grc.org/plastics-recycling-and-upcycling-conference/2025/), focusing on intensive discussions and networking across all career levels to foster collaboration and build lasting scientific […]
Constantin Maaß, doctoral candidate in the research group of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jørgen Magnus at the Institute of Process Engineering – Bioprocess Engineering
And now for a new round of introductions! We are pleased to introduce you to the research group of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jørgen Magnus from the Institute of Process Engineering – Bioprocess Engineering (AVT.BioVT) at RWTH Aachen University. Constantin Maaß, a doctoral candidate in the research group, provides insights into his daily work, including personal challenges […]
Lennard Schulte, Systems Engineering at AVT (SVT.AVT)
Plastic fingerprints? That’s exactly what process technology uses! Did you know that every polymer has a unique infrared spectrum, essentially its own chemical fingerprint? Lennard Schulte, a doctoral candidate in Systems Process Engineering at AVT, is taking advantage of this. His research demonstrates how these spectra can be used to measure reaction-time-dependent concentrations in real […]
Tabea Becker, doctoral candidate in the research group of Prof. Dr. Sonja Herres-Pawlis
We are pleased to introduce you to the research group of Prof. Dr. Sonja Herres – Pawlis from the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry at RWTH Aachen University! Tabea Becker, a doctoral student in the research group, gives us insights into her daily research, including personal challenges and highlights as part of the “Chemical Transformations” sub-area […]
Researcher Workshop with guest lecture by Prof. Nick Wierckx
This researcher workshop began with a guest lecture by Prof. Nick Wierckx, who spoke about the upcycling of polymers by microorganisms. A central focus of his research is the biodegradation of nylon, a particularly challenging task due to the material’s high stability, and its subsequent upgrading to polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) by bioengineered microorganisms. Afterwards, researchers from […]
Dye naturally
Want to dye eggs (or fabrics) naturally? It’s easy! Did you know that the color of blueberries comes primarily from a group of plant pigments called anthocyanins? These belong to the flavonoid family and are responsible for the fruit’s deep blue to violet color. Turmeric contains curcumin, a vibrant yellow-orange natural pigment, as its main […]