Biotechnology and environmental technology are also strands of health research. Fraunhofer researchers are developing ways of synthetically producing biomolecules for the pharmaceutical, food and chemical industries. Research topics include technologies for providing clean drinking water and testing the toxicity of harmful substances – for instance nanoparticles – and looking into ways of replacing these substances in industrial production.
Spread of infectious diseases
The rapid spread of new pathogens such as the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is a serious threat to civilian safety. An ever growing world population and global communication means that future pandemics from hitherto unknown or mutated pathogens are likely. High requirements are placed on civil protection for situations involving biological hazards. In order to be able to guarantee the highest possible protection for the population and emergency personnel, effective measures to combat the uncontrolled spread of infectious pathogens are needed as early as possible. These measures include rapid, safe, and efficient methods for decontamination and disinfection.
In the lighthouse project “Cognitive Agriculture”, eight Fraunhofer Institutes under the leadership of the Fraunho-fer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE in Kaiserslautern are conducting joint research on basic principles for producing agricultural products that are as environmentally friendly and resource-saving as they are highly efficient. Solutions include sensor technology for data collection as well as digitalization and automation of agricultural processes. The idea is to make the analysis of highly complex interactions between biosphere and production usable in an ecosystem of networked data and services (“Agricultural Data Space”) and to have it provide decision support.
Research News / 2.1.2020
Germany’s new Waste and Sewage Sludge Ordinance requires large sewage treatment plants to recover phosphates from sewage sludge or ashes as of 2032. Conventional recovery technologies are costly and chemical-laden. A new technology now offers a more affordable, pollution-free alternative. Fraunhofer researchers helped scale up the process.
In many regions of Germany carp farming suffers significantly from the Koi Herpesvirus-Infection (KHV-I), caused by an infection of carp with the Cyprinid Herpesvirus (CyHV-3, also known as Koi Herpesvirus (KHV)). Outbreaks of KHV-I can generate high economic losses caused by mortalities, costs for killing contagious and infected fish, disinfection of affected ponds and missing income from carp farming. The economic basis of affected plants can be burdened up to termination of business. Up to now no effective measures of prevention and therapy for this disease are available. For this reason, efficient instruments of monitoring to contain this viral disease are required.
Water is vital – therefore, waste water has to be cleaned as efficiently as possible. Ceramic membranes make this possible.
Water is vital – therefore, waste water has to be cleaned as efficiently as possible. Ceramic membranes make this possible. Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS in Hermsdorf, Germany were able to significantly reduce the separation limits of these membranes and to reliably filter off dissolved organic molecules with a molar mass of only 200 Dalton. Even industrial sewage water can thus be cleaned efficiently.
Experiment on the ISS
In a long-term experiment on the International Space Station, Fraunhofer researchers studied how the extreme conditions in space affect algae. Fraunhofer conducted this experiment in close cooperation with German and international partners. Research findings could benefit industrial applications and perhaps a mission to Mars.
In regions with a dry or mainly dry climate the production of drinking water is an existential problem. On average, more water evaporates here than is compensated as a result of precipitation. The ground is therefore dried out and the generally salty groundwater is often only found at great depths. Additionally, in many cases the groundwater level is steadily dropping or so-called fossil, non-renewable aquifers are used. A sustainable production of drinking water from groundwater that can also be used for future generations is thus not possible. The use of surface waters is also difficult in these regions, especially at a great distance from the sea. The Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB is working on a new process concept. The entire process consists of two parts. First, the humidity from the air is absorbed by a highly concentrated saline solution (brine) and thus bound. Then this diluted saline solution is distilled and the water separated from the saline solution is condensed as drinking water (desorption).
The German Environmental Specimen Bank generates important information on internal exposures of humans by initial real time monitoring. Therewith, it provides the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) a scientific basis to take appropriate measures concerning environment and nature conservation as well as control their success. The Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT samples are taken on behalf of the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) since January 2012. On an annual basis blood and urine samples of 120-150 volunteers are being collected at 4 locations in the Federal Republic of Germany (Münster, Halle, Ulm, Greifswald).
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft