Energy Innovation Austria, Issue 3/2017
energyinnovationaustria3/2017Current Developments and Examples of Sustainable Energy TechnologiesEfficient use of biogenic resourcesCurrent research andtechnology developmentFor a sustainable, climate-friendly economic system it is essential toput biogenic raw materials to work in such a way that no resources arewasted. Austrian researchers and firms are busy developing and testingnew technological approaches to employing biomass in sustainable andenvironmentally friendly ways. Pioneering strategies such as cascading usesof biomass are aimed at achieving a maximum of profit, in terms of materialand energy, with the least possible consumption of resources.Parallel bioreactor system for lab-scale fermentationPhoto: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna,Institute for Environmental Biotechnology
TOPICReactors in bio-based fermentation pilot plant, extracted product (PHA),Photos top and middle: Egon Fischer, Fischermedia,Photo below: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna,Institute for Environmental BiotechnologyMake better use of biomassNew approachesfor bio-based industriesIn the context of the energy policy turnaround we need to face the issue of how tomake the best, most resource-efficient use of agricultural and forestry biomass, organicresidues and new raw materials such as algae. With the aid of modern technologiessolid, liquid or gaseous biomass is now being used to generate heat and electricity andto produce synthetic biofuels or hydrogen.In addition, there are many ways of utilizing it as material. Given that biomass ischemically related to the fossil sources of energy, it should be possible to make thesame products from biomass as from petroleum, natural gas and coal. Bio-basedindustries turn biomass into material goods (products). A distinction is made betweenconventional bio-based products, such as paper or foodstuffs, and new bio-basedproducts made from biogenic materials instead of the fossil raw materials previouslyused.Biogenic raw materials can be used to make products and substances in many sectorsof industry, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, composite materials, biopolymers,construction and insulation materials, plus a wide range of specialized bio-basedproducts. The long-term aim must be to develop region-specific strategies for managingbiomass that achieve maximum utility, in terms of material and energy, with the leastpossible consumption of resources.One cutting-edge approach to making efficient use of biogenic raw materials iscascading uses for biomass. Here biomass is first processed materially in asuccession of stages and only later exploited as a source of energy. The wordbiorefinery refers to technologies for sustainably processing biomass to yield a widerange of marketable products. The use of local biomass has real advantages in bothecological and economic terms; it can help to reduce pollution, diminish dependenceon imported non-renewable raw materials and create more value locally. In thisissue we present various examples of national and international R&D activities in thisfield. Austria‘s strengths in bio-based industriesAs part of a survey published by the ÖGUT (Austrian Society forEnvironment and Technology) and the AIT (Austrian Institute ofTechnology) in 2016, the current state of bio-based industriesin Austria was analysed. Patent applications were identified inparticular technological sectors of bio-based industry. They wereassigned to the various provinces geographically and comparedwith other countries in Europe. All in all 2,028 IPC (InternationalPatent Classification) codes were identified as relevant to biobased industries (BBI). They fall into eight technological categories.2energy innovation austria 3/2017Overall Austria evinced an average degree of specialization in thevarious BBI sectors during the period under consideration, 2010to 2014. In some technological fields, such as the textile andcellulose industries, there was a very great degree of specialization;in this sector Austria had twice as many patent applications as theother countries in Europe. The sectors construction and insulationmaterials from renewable raw materials, paper machines andaccessories, polysaccharides, paper, starch and speciality bio-basedproducts and manufacturing processes were also above average.
PROJECTMicroscope images of PHA-producing bacteria.In the photo on the right intracellular storage polymers(PHA) have been stained with a fluorescent dye.Photos: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences,Vienna, Institute for Environmental BiotechnologyValorPlastBioplastics fromsugar-industry byproductsBy developing novel processing methods for sugar biorefineries,the researchers aim to make more efficient use of the rawmaterial sugar beet and open up new applications, so as to makethe industry more competitive. Up to now utilizing residues fromthe sugar industry was focussed almost entirely on molasses. Fordesugarized (residual) molasses and beet pulp the only optionswere the utilization as animal feed, as fertilizer or as a source ofenergy.Making biopolymersAs part of ValorPlast residual molasses and beet pulp are to befermented to yield PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates). These bio-based,biodegradable polymers have been identified as the most suitableproduct that can be obtained from transforming the residues bybiotechnological means. PHAs can be used as packaging material,as compostable single-use products or in biomedical engineering,for instance. Up to now market opportunities have been limitedby price, since the main feedstocks for making PHAs were refinedsugars.Two novel fermentation processes are being investigated in theproject. One uses residual molasses as feedstock. Because thisbyproduct has a high salt content, there are currently no highgrade uses for it. However, its salt content can be an advantagein the fermentation process, because it is possible to employhalophilic (salt-loving) microorganisms that allow cultivation atnon-sterile conditions. Some of these halophilic microorganismscan produce short-chain-length (scl) PHAs. The second process ismeant to transform beet pulp into medium-chain-length (mcl) PHAs;these polymers are more elastic and have different processingcharacteristics which open up new areas of application for PHAs.In a two-stage process the beet pulp is pre-acidified to form volatilefatty acids, which are then transformed into PHAs.Test specimens of PHA are made from the fermentation productsand their processing and application characteristics are investigated.Finally the processes are evaluated overall; this involves assessingtheir potential and carrying out detailed economic analysis.Initial findingsIn the first year of the project the focus was on characterizingthe feedstocks and on analysing and improving the acidificationprocess for beet pulp at laboratory scale. The compositions ofdiffering feedstocks (residual molasses and beet pulp) are alreadyknown and can be used for planning fermentation experiments. Theacidification process for beet pulp has already been developed, withthe most important process parameters defined. Preparations arecurrently in progress for moving on to a continuous process.Various strains of microorganism that may be suitable for producingPHAs from the feedstocks selected have been investigated. One ofthe salt-tolerant strains identified is particularly promising, becauseresidual molasses can be used at a relatively high concentrationand PHA contents of up to 50 % of the dry matter in the biomasswere obtained in the first experiments. Microorganisms suitablefor producing mcl PHA have also been identified, with a view toimproving the process further. „The sugar industry has alwaysfound the most efficient ways ofutilizing byproduct streams as theyoccur. Transformation into biobased and biodegradable plasticsalso opens the way to high-valueproducts with new properties.Developing the production processtogether with partners in industryis exciting for us; within the project consortium we are alsoable to evaluate the polymer properties and possible areasof application. For this it is vital that the byproducts beavailable in significant quantities – a prerequisite forcost-effective implementation.“Photo: University of Natural Resources andLife Sciences, ViennaIn the ValorPlast project researchers at the University of NaturalResources and Life Sciences‘ Institute for EnvironmentalBiotechnology are investigating how to transform sugar-industrybyproducts into biopolymers. The project consortium includesBioenergy 2020 GmbH, Agrana Research & Innovation CenterGmbH, IM Polymer GmbH and the Institute for Chemistry andTechnology of Materials at Graz University of Technology.Markus NeureiterUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, ViennaDepartment IFA-Tulln, Institute for Environmental Biotechnologyenergy innovation austria 3/20173
PROJECTTreating fermentation residues, Laboratory, Photos: Botres Global GmbHRERA-proIntegrated biorefinery to process residuesRERA-pro, a project headed by the Styrian firm Botres GlobalGmbH, is concerned with research leading to an integratedbiorefinery to process residues on an industrial scale. Alsoinvolved in the project: Stipits Entsorgung GmbH and the ProcessEngineering study group in the Institute of Food Technology atthe University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna.The aim is to make high-grade products from organic waste,entirely emission-free, by means of system integration and linkingtogether various pioneering technologies.The approach adopted here differs from cascading strategies,as full use is made of the biomass in an integrated process,with no competition between energy production and utilizationof substances. The integrative approach combines biogasproduction, processing fermentation residues and fermentingalgae, all in a singlefacility. FermentationORGANIC WASTEresidues from producingbiogas are used to makecustomized fertilizerstreating fermentabiogas facilityand high-grade proteintion residuesSingle Cell Proteinfeed. Two-thirds of the(SCP)remaining fermentationresidues are convertedfermentinginto clean water, andheterotroph algaeNetzwerk AlgenTo encourage research, development and implementation oftechnologies and products connected with microalgae, bmvitmanages Netzwerk Algen (“Algae Network”). Once a year ameeting is held at which the stakeholders in the field can linkup together. Apart from activities in Austria, there are plans toexchange information with stakeholders inGermany and Switzerland.More information is available mvit.gv.at4energy innovation austria 3/2017the biogas process and the treatment of fermentation residuesare used to obtain nitrogen with which to ferment heterotrophalgae. In exchange for only 20 % less biogas produced, the processutilizes up to 70 % of the nitrogen accumulating.Producing heterotroph algaeUtilizing algae for material has huge potential. Microalgae areused to produce polyunsaturated fatty acids on an industrialscale for the food and feed industries; they can also be usedas a feedstock in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.Usually, in phototrophic production, algae need sunlight, carbondioxide and water to be able to grow. The energy to fix carbondioxide in photosynthesis comes from the sun. In this processcarbon dioxide is fixed in the form of chemical compounds whichrepresent a source of carbon for the algae. Where heterotrophmicroalgae are fermented, the algae do not need light or carbondioxide in order to grow; in heterotroph algae cultivation the algaecells are not supplied with carbon dioxide but with other sourcesof carbon, such as sugar or acetic acid.Organic waste as a source of protein for aquaculturesIn the RERA-pro approach the heterotroph algae are intended toserve as a source of protein (algae SCP Single Cell Protein) foraquacultures. The aim of the strategy is to cut costs dramatically– the cost of producing SCP is meant to go down by 50 up to70 %. With a shortage of fishmeal expected all over the world,opening up new, tailor-made sources of feed protein presents aglobal challenge. This applies to the industrialized countries, too –the EU s self-sufficiency in feed protein is only 32 %. Heterotrophalgae are an ideal substitute for fishmeal; in comparison withvegetable proteins, they have a better spectrum of amino acids,and fish fed on them contain more omega-3 fatty acids.Producing heterotroph algae from organic waste is a cuttingedge strategy that can help to mitigate the worldwide shortageof sources of feed protein. Implementing a first integratedbiorefinery to process residues is planned for 2017, in the formof a research and test facility on the Stipits premises in Rechnitz(Burgenland).
PROJECTPhotos: University of Applied Sciences SalzburgBioSubTroUsing biogenic substances when timber is driedWhen woodland biomass, sawn timber and byproducts of sawingare dried, various constituents accumulate that have receivedlittle attention up to now. These substances have considerablepotential as feedstocks in industrial production. In BioSubTro, aresearch project of the University of Applied Sciences Salzburgin collaboration with Weitzer Parkett GmbH & CO KG, SanollBiokosmetik GmbH and Sägewerk Johann Pöckl, new processesare being developed to capture these byproducts of timber dryingand put them to work.Substances obtained sustainably from lignified material are ofspecial interest for the chemical, pharmaceutical and cosmeticsindustries. As a rule, extracting these is expensive; in mostextraction processes the timber is shredded, after which it is nolonger available for cascading uses.Researchers at University of Applied Sciences Salzburg arenow investigating new options for obtaining and utilizing usablesubstances from biomass. Here the materials (such as woodlandbiomass, bark or sawn timber) are dried on technically relevantscale, and the resulting volatile and extractive constituents areobtained in the form of condensates.Various processes are then carried out to purify and separate theresulting mixtures; later the ingredients are characterized in termsof quantity and quality.Preservatives for natural cosmeticsThe wood and bark of living trees contain natural substanceswhich protect them against attack by fungi and bacteria. Thesesubstances‘ antimicrobial properties are of great interest, andare meant to be harnessed in the new processes. Up to nowmanufacturers of natural cosmetics had to use conventionalsubstances to protect their products. As part of the projectvarious screening tests are carried out with condensate andits constituents, to demonstrate the antimicrobial efficacy ofthese substances and their preservative properties in cosmeticproducts.Initial findingsSo far various categories of substance, such as carbohydratesor polyphenols, have been identified in the condensates invarying concentrations, and initial investigations have shown thatthe constituents have an antimicrobial effect on the test bacilliemployed.The next step will be to analyse how the active ingredientsin cosmetic products can be processed, and to test theirpreservative effect there. Other possible fields of applicationand market potentials for these biogenic substances are to beidentified within the project, too. Laboratory, Photos: University of Applied Sciences Salzburgenergy innovation austria 3/20175
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONPROVIDESEnvironmentally friendlysolvents for the paper industryAlong with the steel and cement industries, the paper industry is amajor energy consumer. For centuries the pulp and paper industryhas been based on biomass. The processes to digest biomassand treat recovered paper have been repeatedly improved, butthey still consume energy on a large scale. To move the Europeanpulp and paper industry toward a low-carbon bioeconomy,new technologies will be needed, leading to savings in energyconsumption and a reduction in carbon emissions. One startingpoint here is researching new processes based on low-costbiodegradable solvents, so-called DES (Deep Eutectic Solvents),which can separate wood into lignin and cellulose with relativelylow energy consumption.Hydrophobic DES (Deep Eutectic Solvent), Photo: TU EindhovenThe international packaging and paper group MONDI is a partnerin this research initiative. The project involves developing novelprocesses that operate at lower temperatures and pressures anduse non-polluting solvents. Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) are analternative to conventional solvents, and can dissolve cell-wallconstituents from various lignocelluloses at low temperaturesSeparating lignin out over 3 hours at only 60 C, Photo: TU EindhovenAs part of the EU‘s Joint Technology Initiative “Biobased Industries“(JU BBI) European researchers and industry are investigating in thePROVIDES project (Grant Agreement NO 668970) the utilizationof these eutectic solvents to selectively remove wood constituentswithout consuming much energy.EU-wide collaborationBio-based Industries (JU BBI)The Joint Undertaking (JU) “Bio-based Industries“ (BBI) was setup in 2014 as a Joint Technology Initiative in the EU’s researchand innovation programme Horizon 2020. The main focus of theinitiative is on utilizing inedible parts of plants, such as wood,residues from agriculture and forestry and biodegradable waste,and transforming these into various bio-based products andbiofuels. The investment volume planned for this JTI in the period2014 to 2020 comes to 3.7 billion Euro.6energy innovation austria 3/2017(below 100 C). To make DES, natural substances (amides,sugars, acids) are mixed with at least one proton donor (HBD)and at least one proton acceptor (HBA). The solvents are misciblewith water, biodegradable, not very volatile, and inexpensive tomake. DES can displace standard digestion processes; theirpotential for completely restructuring cellulose production,making a production process with reduced energy consumptionand reduced emissions and residues possible, is considerable.The main aims are: to reduce process energy intensity compared to conventionalways of making cellulose by at least 40 % to reduce investment costs compared to current celluloseplants by 50 %; this is feasible because the new equipmentdoes not involve high pressures and recovering the chemicalsis straightforward to improve the market position of products currently obtainedfrom timber (e.g. paper, cardboard) and develop newapplications with high added value, for instance in the textileand chemical industries
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONMetal ion extraction from water by hydrophobic DES (Deep Eutectic Solvents),Photo: TU EindhovenVarious DES are currently tested in the PROVIDES projectwith regard to separating lignin out of lignocellulose anddecontaminating recovered paper, i.e. removing printing inks andcontaminants such as stickies. A number of new combinationsof HBD (proton donors) and HBA (proton acceptors) have beendeveloped, forming deep eutectic solvents. For the first time ahydrophobic DES has been investigated; hydrophobic DES areimmiscible with water and make it much easier to separateindividual components out of a mixture of water and cellulose.The researchers are also investigating techniques upstream anddownstream to make the separation processes more effective.The aim is also to develop efficient methods of recovering boththe solvents and the dissolved constituents.„For Mondi, taking part in PROVIDESmeans joining in developing a newtechnology for our industry at EU level.Here we pay special attention to closingprocess loops as completely as possible,minimizing energy consumption andcascading uses of the domestic rawmaterial timber so as to maximize valuecreation. This makes PROVIDES anPhoto: Mondi Groupimportant research project that fits in with our strategy ofdeveloping sustainable value creation for our customersfrom h
halophilic (salt-loving) microorganisms that allow cultivation at non-sterile conditions. Some of these halophilic microorganisms can produce short-chain-length (scl) PHAs. The second process is meant to transform beet pulp into medium-chain-length (mcl) PHAs; these polyme
THE SOVEREIGN MILITARY ORDER OF MALTA IN AUSTRIA Since the 12 th Century the Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of St.John of Jerusalem is also in Austria. The seat of the Grand Priory of Bohemia and Austria was first in Prague. In 12th Century the Order started to estab
Upper Austria: Local economy Upper Austria shares borders with Germany and the Czech Republic and is the third largest of the nine Austrian provinces. The population is just under 1.5 million (16% of the population) and close to 190 000 live in the capital Linz. As other Austrian regions, Upper Austria is characterised by an impressive
OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR I (1914) After Austria declared war on Serbia, a domino effect began as the alliances went into effect 1. Austria declared war on Serbia 2. Russia (Serbia's ally) moved troops to borders w/ Austria and Germany 3. Germany (Austria's ally) declared war on Russia, then pre-emptively declared war on France (Russia's ally) 4.
Basic Concepts of Innovation and Innovation Mgmt M.Lorenzo 2010-03-253 Introduction What is Innovation? Innovation is typically understood as the introduction of something new and useful Innovation is
on work, power and energy]. (iv)Different types of energy (e.g., chemical energy, Mechanical energy, heat energy, electrical energy, nuclear energy, sound energy, light energy). Mechanical energy: potential energy U mgh (derivation included ) gravitational PE, examples; kinetic energy
innovation. Primarily, there is evident from this longitudinal study; open innovation has so far been adopted mainly in high-tech and multinational enterprises. There is evidence that a few studies have demonstrated that open innovation also exists in the SMEs (Wynarczyk, 2013). Open innovation is becoming a popular issue in innovation management.
Great War, or World War I (WWI). The built up pressure turned to aggression when the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, was assassinated in Serbia. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, which caused Russia to fight in order to defend Serbia. Germany saw Russia mobilizing for war, and declared war on .
Sep 25, 2015 · Chapter: Page: 1 Ferguson’s Notes 16 World War Looms Section 2 - War in Europe Austria and Czechoslovakia The German Offensive Begins A. After WW I, the Paris Peace Conference carved Austria out of what was left of the Austro-Hungarian Empire 1. Most of Austria’s 6 million people were Germans who favored unification with Germany 2.
