{"id":1030,"date":"2024-12-04T12:56:13","date_gmt":"2024-12-04T12:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pfi.agentur-reppa.de\/wordpress\/?page_id=1030"},"modified":"2025-07-08T14:23:01","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T14:23:01","slug":"forschung","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/en\/biotechnologie\/forschung\/","title":{"rendered":"Research"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-base-2-background-color has-background is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0480d1ee wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-59775501 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6f22db3c wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-pfi-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-36aa60bbed73a22427de75639f405646\" style=\"margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:calc( var(--wp--preset--spacing--20) * -1);line-height:1.2;writing-mode:horizontal-tb\"><strong><strong><strong>Research<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-831b2db5 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-container-content-0733e5d0 wp-block-paragraph\">Climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and growing scarcity and rising prices of fossil fuels: These are the global challenges we currently face.&nbsp;<strong>Increased material and energetic utilisation of renewable resources and available residual biomass<\/strong>&nbsp;have become absolutely essential, from both an ecological and an economic standpoint. Intense research and development work on <strong>biomass utilisation<\/strong>&nbsp;lays the foundation for efficient and cost-effective exploitation of these resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-container-content-0733e5d0 wp-block-paragraph\">The research activities of PFI Biotechnology\u2019s interdisciplinary team of biotechnologists, microbiologists, chemists, and engineers are focussed on the areas of biogas, fermentation, and biomass pretreatment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized has-custom-border is-style-rounded image-gradient-border wp-duotone-unset-2 is-style-rounded--1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/biotechnologie-forschung_Retusche.webp\" alt=\"Biotechnologe mit Kittel und Handschuhen f\u00fcllt im Labor mit einer Pipette etwas in ein Reagenzglas.\" class=\"wp-image-3468\" style=\"border-radius:10px;aspect-ratio:3\/4;object-fit:cover;width:auto;height:500px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/biotechnologie-forschung_Retusche.webp 1536w, https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/biotechnologie-forschung_Retusche-240x300.webp 240w, https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/biotechnologie-forschung_Retusche-819x1024.webp 819w, https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/biotechnologie-forschung_Retusche-768x960.webp 768w, https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/biotechnologie-forschung_Retusche-50x63.webp 50w, https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/biotechnologie-forschung_Retusche-1229x1536.webp 1229w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull .clickable-container has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0cb8214e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"background-color:#d7d8d936;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-aefb800e wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<details class=\"wp-block-details alignwide has-pfi-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-e2eb7f43f7d6e8fdfc41df47a823f363 is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-right:0;padding-left:0\"><summary><strong><strong><strong><strong>Biogas<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/summary>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-pfi-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-59710a5a87ed31a1a807d15e184c93e2\"><strong>Biogas<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-97257fe6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-bottom:0\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-custom-pfi-farbverlauf-gradient-background has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-14e8c875d1d352c3bc3234c3c7aba6aa wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-radius:10px;padding-top:0;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\"><strong><strong><strong>Optimisation of Process Biology<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-19f2c6483b26acd426ec955fb53d6907 wp-block-paragraph\">A principal task of PFI Biotechnology is to initiate and implement research projects in the area of biogas. In current projects we are studying the microbial flora in biogas plants. Optimisation of process biology offers enormous potential for further efficiency enhancements in biogas generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c72eb76723988143d0a864673af1ca46 wp-block-paragraph\">Our goal is to elucidate the manifold interactions between the central microbial groups in the biogas process and to acquire a more profound understanding of the optimum growth and nutrient conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9df7f6eb9dc2ed3022d1b11a9f2290bc wp-block-paragraph\">Isolation and characterisation of particularly effective bacteria also opens up the possibility of developing starter cultures specifically for biogas plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-c50e11c6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-custom-pfi-farbverlauf-gradient-background has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-9577164141a4913b3db7e0c96b9f3785 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-radius:10px;padding-top:0;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\"><strong><strong><strong>Utilisation of Residual Biomass \u2013 Lignocellulose<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"umbruch has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c7ee09b01314576edfadf55b401964f1 wp-block-paragraph\">Another important field of research for PFI Biotechnology is the assessment of the suitability of hitherto hardly utilised kinds of biomass as a substrate for biogas generation.\nThe main focus is on residual biomass and agricultural co-products such as material from landscape management or straw. Increased use of these substrates could defuse the conflict as to whether agricultural land is used to grow energy crops or food crops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-f9eaa5ddf8a6e17678a00b746bbd60f4 wp-block-paragraph\">However, the use of such highly lignified biomass in biogas plants poses new challenges for process engineering and process biology. We are developing and optimising new digestion methods to transform these materials into substrates suitable for biogas generation (see also&nbsp;<a href=\"#biomasseaufschluss\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#biomasseaufschluss\"><strong>Pretreatment of Biomass<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ad2f0e98 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-bottom:0\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-custom-pfi-farbverlauf-gradient-background has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-6145ac311a7fb1a9a30ffb10c51dd174 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-radius:10px;padding-top:0;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\"><strong><strong><strong>Nutrient Optimisation<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2db45c9954034d0e9154da7becf0fcae wp-block-paragraph\">We also test the effect of additives on the biogas process. One important current topic is that of providing microorganisms with an adequate supply of trace nutrients, especially in plants with high volumetric loading rates and little or no liquid manure in the substrate mix.\nWe investigate which <strong>trace elements<\/strong> are of crucial importance for process stability in biogas plants, and determine their optimum concentrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-11e96fd8dca07991646b057e1424c6cb wp-block-paragraph\">Cost-benefit analysis on use of hydrolytic enzymes in biogas plants is the topic of an extensive joint project with participation of PFI Biotechnology.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details alignwide has-pfi-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-50dd7fa9528a85e9a5d04e4c84c935fe is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Fermentation<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/summary>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-pfi-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-a87af7661ae45a4fce8790aacc79967e\"><strong><strong>Fermentation<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-a1d82972f7adbcb86a7c91811e0d4ad4 wp-block-paragraph\">Material utilisation of renewable resources in the form of a bio-based chemical and polymer production will become hugely important in the future. Whereas various possibilities exist for the substitution of fossil fuels in the energy and transport sectors, the only future alternative available for the polymer sector is biomass. Our goal is to shed light on the complex interactions between the key microbial groups in the biogas process and to gain a deeper understanding of the optimal growth and nutrient conditions. The isolation and characterisation of particularly efficient bacteria also open up opportunities for the development of starter cultures specifically tailored to biogas plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5d090b2b wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:0\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-custom-pfi-farbverlauf-gradient-background has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-368fa9327fd7a5def1bcee4e0d1334bd wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-radius:10px;padding-top:0;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\"><strong><strong><strong>Fermentative Production of Biopolymers<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2322a949b3925e1468f90947bdda505d wp-block-paragraph\">A key focus of activity at PFI Biotechnology is the fermentative production of biopolymers for substitution of petroleum-based plastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"umbruch has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-e617f6f10b8fb9b1e2714c53fe0ba02b wp-block-paragraph\">We are currently conducting research on the production of polyhydroxybutyric acid (PHB) and other polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) by means of specific bacterial strains. PHB, PHB copolymers, and other PHAs are intracellular storage substances accumulated by various microorganisms. They can be used to produce thermoplastic biopolymers with excellent material properties which can easily hold their own in competition with petroleum-based plastics such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). In contrast to the latter, however, they are completely biodegradable and can be composted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-93582e072c414f671423f9ff2df95cb0 wp-block-paragraph\">Broad application of biopolymers is offset by their still very high prices. These are due, on the one hand, to the cost of raw materials because they are currently produced mainly from sugars (fructose or maltose); on the other hand, separation and purification of PHB from cellular material incur relatively high processing costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-d3909c1f wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-custom-pfi-farbverlauf-gradient-background has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-9e0440ace98bb1e10c93cbb797076043 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-radius:10px;padding-top:0;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\"><strong><strong><strong>PHB from Residual Biomass<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-bc11e4df168030c84abb109872acc3d0 wp-block-paragraph\">PFI Biotechnology is therefore pursuing the goal of producing PHB from low-cost residual biomass such as straw. A combination of thermal and enzymatic digestion processes transforms hemicelluloses and lignocellulose into a form suitable for fermentation. Energy for the process is provided by biogas generation from residual materials. In parallel we are investigating new approaches to solvent-free isolation of the target product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-014bf428 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-bottom:0\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-custom-pfi-farbverlauf-gradient-background has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-d10aadd658c1fd132ba121266dcf2499 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-radius:10px;padding-top:0;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\"><strong><strong><strong>C5 Fermentation<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1f5d49100cc777ad797f88fd539e5d43 wp-block-paragraph\">Other research projects include fermentations on the basis of pentoses from hydrolysed hemicelluloses. Production of the valuable sugar alcohol xylitol from xylose with the aid of special yeasts is a key area of activity.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details alignwide has-pfi-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7825d7478e6dec98ad05447419595e1d is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Pretreatment of Biomass<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/summary>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-pfi-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-f1556f2340b1b104d81f20540cb3e7fc\" id=\"biomasseaufschluss\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\"><strong><strong><strong>Pretreatment of Biomass<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0aa443d8 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);padding-bottom:0\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-custom-pfi-farbverlauf-gradient-background has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-51e8c72616b2ef9f7f47c9f49671091d wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-radius:10px;padding-top:0;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\"><strong>Process-controlled Enzymatic Hydrolysis (PEH)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"umbruch has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-099c71686b0e72a75acd5f468df2461e wp-block-paragraph\">The degree and rate of degradation of substrates in the biogas process are strongly dependent upon the chemical structures of the materials involved. Whereas fats, proteins, and starch are very rapidly and almost completely transformed into biogas, the fibrous components, and especially the cellulose fraction, pose a challenge for biogas generation. On the one hand, the structure of the cellulose fibres hinders enzymatic hydrolysis; on the other hand, the conditions typically encountered in a biogas digester (pH value, temperature) are unfavourable for cellulolytic enzymes and significantly reduce their activity. Fibrous plant components are consequently degraded only slowly and incompletely in biogas plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-beeaec2a6804da7c2505a811dbafd875 wp-block-paragraph\">Against this backdrop, PFI Biotechnology has developed a special pre-hydrolysis process to substantially increase the degree and rate of degradation of the fibrous components. In&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/en\/methoden-und-verfahrensentwicklung\/#peh\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1012\"><strong>process-controlled enzymatic hydrolysis (PEH)<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;the biomass is pretreated in a specially designed hydrolysis vessel before it reaches the biogas digester. Optimum pH and temperature condition for the activity of hydrolytic enzymes are maintained in this controlled and sensor-monitored process. After thorough laboratory and pilot-scale testing, the process is currently undergoing full-scale trials (see also&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/en\/methoden-und-verfahrensentwicklung\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1012\"><strong>Development<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5d090b2b wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:0\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-custom-pfi-farbverlauf-gradient-background has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-f683b863bd06bc23d452bbf79f24e7ee wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-radius:10px;padding-top:0;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:0;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\"><strong><strong><strong>Thermal Pressure Hydrolysis (TPH)&nbsp;<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-cf69efb577099be1261e728a7ac54979 wp-block-paragraph\">Use of lignified biomass requires the application of further pretreatment processes, especially if sugar-enriched hydrolysates are to be provided for fermentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c2271f06261fd7fbfadfa59dec49a390 wp-block-paragraph\">Here PFI Biotechnology is working hard on a hydrothermal pretreatment process, known as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Grundlagen_zur_TDH.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Grundlagen_zur_TDH.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Thermal Pressure Hydrolysis (TPH)<\/strong><\/a>. The hemicellulose fraction of lignified substrates (such as straw) is extensively hydrolysed in a special batch process and the lignocellulose prepared for subsequent enzymatic hydrolyse (see also&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/en\/methoden-und-verfahrensentwicklung\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1012\"><strong>Development<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-cb1d5c8e90ee71289476bc806478759f wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Lignocellulose:&nbsp;<\/strong>is the most widely distributed of all naturally occurring organic materials and is the primary building block of plant cell walls. The three major components of lignocellulose are: cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. These three biopolymer structures are together responsible for the stability of plant materials. For example, the pronounced durability of wood is attributable to these substances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b463827bc38fae3fc1cc4482c96685f3 wp-block-paragraph\">Above all, lignin is particularly stable and protects plant structures against microbial degradation. However, it is precisely this persistence which hinders the biotechnolocal transformation of lignocellulose into chemical raw materials, fuels (2G), energy, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-021041528d90f7a978ddae01fb76ece7 wp-block-paragraph\">Sustainable conversion of lignocellulose requires mixtures of enzymes which hydrolyse cellulose and hemicellulose into their component sugars. At present these enzymes are very costly to produce. Industrial-scale implementation of the processes is therefore currently uneconomical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c10a50bf297cf431fa84050fd5ea7734 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2G Fuels:&nbsp;<\/strong>Biofuels  \u2013 i.e. fuels derived from biomass  \u2013 can nowadays be divided into two categories: If substrates containing sugar or starch, e.g. maize or sugar cane, are used in their production, they are described as 1st generation (1G) biofuels. Such 1G fuels are comparatively easy to produce and are manufactured on an industrial scale, for example in the USA and Brazil (bioethanol). However, their popularity is steadily declining because the land used for growing fuel crops cannot be used for cultivation of food crops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-134a38e632f050ef5d3f7b19eb0d7afb wp-block-paragraph\">Intense research is therefore being conducted on the production of fuels from residual biomass such as straw. Residual biomass consists mainly of lignocellulose and is not suitable for consumption as food or animal feed. Fuels derived from lignocellulose are designated as 2nd generation (2G) fuels. Their industrial production is currently very expensive. The main cost drivers are the enzymes used in their production process (see lignocellulose).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-pfi-blue-background-color has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-0a4a579b wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-radius:20px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-56a8d64c20f94afa46713f5592c0f11f wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Downloads<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-pfi-blue-color has-white-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Grundlagen_zur_TDH.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Thermal Pressure Hydrolysis (TPH)<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Forschung Klimawandel, Treibhausgas-Emissionen, Verknappung und Verteuerung fossiler Energietr\u00e4ger: Das sind die globalen Entwicklungen, auf die wir uns einstellen m\u00fcssen. Die&nbsp;verst\u00e4rkte stoffliche und energetische Nutzung von nachwachsenden Rohstoffen und verf\u00fcgbaren Restbiomassen&nbsp;ist sowohl aus \u00f6kologischer als auch \u00f6konomischer Sicht unabdingbar. Intensive Forschungs- und Entwicklungsarbeit im Bereich der Biomassenutzung&nbsp;schafft die Grundlagen f\u00fcr eine effiziente und wirtschaftliche Nutzung dieser [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":988,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1030","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Forschung f\u00fcr nachhaltige Biomassenutzung &amp; Biotechnologie<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Innovative Forschung zur Biomassenutzung: Biogas, Fermentation &amp; Biopolymer-Herstellung f\u00fcr nachhaltige Energie und biobasierte Chemikalien der Zukunft.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/en\/biotechnologie\/forschung\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Forschung f\u00fcr nachhaltige Biomassenutzung &amp; Biotechnologie\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Innovative Forschung zur Biomassenutzung: Biogas, Fermentation &amp; Biopolymer-Herstellung f\u00fcr nachhaltige Energie und biobasierte Chemikalien der Zukunft.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/en\/biotechnologie\/forschung\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Pr\u00fcf- und Forschungsinstitut Pirmasens e.V.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/Pruef-und-Forschungsinstitut-Pirmasens-e-V\/100057088164342\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-08T14:23:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/biotechnologie-forschung_Retusche.webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/de\\\/biotechnologie\\\/forschung\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/de\\\/biotechnologie\\\/forschung\\\/\",\"name\":\"Forschung f\u00fcr nachhaltige Biomassenutzung & Biotechnologie\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/de\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/de\\\/biotechnologie\\\/forschung\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/de\\\/biotechnologie\\\/forschung\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/biotechnologie-forschung_Retusche.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-12-04T12:56:13+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-08T14:23:01+00:00\",\"description\":\"Innovative Forschung zur Biomassenutzung: Biogas, Fermentation & Biopolymer-Herstellung f\u00fcr nachhaltige Energie und biobasierte Chemikalien der Zukunft.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/de\\\/biotechnologie\\\/forschung\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/de\\\/biotechnologie\\\/forschung\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/de\\\/biotechnologie\\\/forschung\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/biotechnologie-forschung_Retusche.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/02\\\/biotechnologie-forschung_Retusche.webp\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/de\\\/biotechnologie\\\/forschung\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Biotechnologie\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/en\\\/biotechnologie\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Forschung\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/de\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/de\\\/\",\"name\":\"PFI 2024\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/de\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/de\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/de\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"PFI 2024\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/de\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/de\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/logo.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/logo.jpg\",\"width\":329,\"height\":120,\"caption\":\"PFI 2024\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/pfi-germany.de\\\/de\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/people\\\/Pruef-und-Forschungsinstitut-Pirmasens-e-V\\\/100057088164342\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/pfi_germany\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UCITCYhey0fqJRRjiH7Gw3sg\",\"https:\\\/\\\/de.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/pfi-germany\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Forschung f\u00fcr nachhaltige Biomassenutzung & Biotechnologie","description":"Innovative Forschung zur Biomassenutzung: Biogas, Fermentation & Biopolymer-Herstellung f\u00fcr nachhaltige Energie und biobasierte Chemikalien der Zukunft.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/en\/biotechnologie\/forschung\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Forschung f\u00fcr nachhaltige Biomassenutzung & Biotechnologie","og_description":"Innovative Forschung zur Biomassenutzung: Biogas, Fermentation & Biopolymer-Herstellung f\u00fcr nachhaltige Energie und biobasierte Chemikalien der Zukunft.","og_url":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/en\/biotechnologie\/forschung\/","og_site_name":"Pr\u00fcf- und Forschungsinstitut Pirmasens e.V.","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/Pruef-und-Forschungsinstitut-Pirmasens-e-V\/100057088164342\/","article_modified_time":"2025-07-08T14:23:01+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/biotechnologie-forschung_Retusche.webp","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Estimated reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/de\/biotechnologie\/forschung\/","url":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/de\/biotechnologie\/forschung\/","name":"Forschung f\u00fcr nachhaltige Biomassenutzung & Biotechnologie","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/de\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/de\/biotechnologie\/forschung\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/de\/biotechnologie\/forschung\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/biotechnologie-forschung_Retusche.webp","datePublished":"2024-12-04T12:56:13+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-08T14:23:01+00:00","description":"Innovative Forschung zur Biomassenutzung: Biogas, Fermentation & Biopolymer-Herstellung f\u00fcr nachhaltige Energie und biobasierte Chemikalien der Zukunft.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/de\/biotechnologie\/forschung\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/de\/biotechnologie\/forschung\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/de\/biotechnologie\/forschung\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/biotechnologie-forschung_Retusche.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/biotechnologie-forschung_Retusche.webp"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/de\/biotechnologie\/forschung\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Biotechnologie","item":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/en\/biotechnologie\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Forschung"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/de\/#website","url":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/de\/","name":"PFI 2024","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/de\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/de\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/de\/#organization","name":"PFI 2024","url":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/de\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/de\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/logo.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/logo.jpg","width":329,"height":120,"caption":"PFI 2024"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/de\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/people\/Pruef-und-Forschungsinstitut-Pirmasens-e-V\/100057088164342\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/pfi_germany\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCITCYhey0fqJRRjiH7Gw3sg","https:\/\/de.linkedin.com\/company\/pfi-germany"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1030","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1030"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1030\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6652,"href":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1030\/revisions\/6652"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/988"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pfi-germany.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1030"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}