Review from the Event on 13. May 2026

Miriam Ciallella presented Electrochemical depolymerization of nitrogen containing polymers (NCPs)

NCPs, such as polyurethanes and polyamides, are widely used but the recycling remains limited and unsustainable due to the harsh conditions and the amount of chemical used. In our project in collaboration with BASF, we aim to develop a depolymerization approach where, thanks to electrochemistry, we would be able to selective cleavage of key chemical bonds under mild conditions, avoiding the use of stoichiometric reagents and enabling the conversion of polymer waste into useful and reusable chemical building blocks. Our goal is to contribute to a more sustainable and circular approach to plastic waste management.

As key messages from the discussion she concluded, that developing sustainable recycling processes is not sufficient on its own, but it is equally important to design processes that can be realistically scaled to industrial applications. This could be easily done with electrochemistry. The design of the method must take into consideration the additives and the different kinds of plastic used.

Bjarne Thorben Schulz presented Incorporation of photocleavable motifs enables controlled environmental degradation

35.000t of APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) are consumed by German citizens per year, being detected in surface water, groundwater, and drinking water after use and excretion, thus being also subject of bioaccumulation. One solution can be light-promoted degradation. This will lead to lower concentrations of APIs in aquatic systems, no long-term persistence of APIs.

Nika Podlesnik presented Solvent-free drug synthesis

The challenge and potential impact of solvent replacement in the pharmaceutical industry could be solved by mechanochemistry. In mechanochemistry, reactions are induced by mechanical energy. Such reactions can be designed in a solvent free, faster, less energy consuming way, while improving selectivity, exhibiting new reactivity and increased yields. In this context the goal to achieve is: Mechanochemical synthesis of a novel anti-cancer drug.

Raluca Dobre presented: Biobased high-performance adhesives

Starch is an abundant biopolymer that can be isolated from crops such as potato, wheat, or corn. Chemically modified starch is used as adhesive for paper and other lignocellulosic materials, but current formulations lack appropriate water resistance and the possibility to glue inactivated surfaces, such as polyethylene. To overcome these shortcomings, one of our envisioned solutions is the use of diazirines (available from natural amino acids) as carbene surrogates, which can undergo insertion reactions into various bonds, thus serving as putative crosslinkers between starch and various surfaces.

Key messages from the marketplace were, even though the starting materials are biodegradable, it is important to ensure that the end product (derivatized starch) is also biodegradable (at least on a higher level than the already existing commercial adhesives with similar performance). Moreover, there is a stringent necessity to use fluorine-free diazirines to achieve environmentally friendly solutions.

Sandra Babu presented: Industrial Side Streams conversion to High-Purity Bio-Based Chemicals

This PhD project focuses on the sustainable microbial production of 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO), an important building-block-chemical used in materials such as textiles, polymers, coatings, and polyurethanes. The work explores the use of industrial side streams from biodiesel and bioethanol production, such as crude glycerol and stillage, to replace expensive conventional fermentation inputs and improve process circularity. A major focus is also on downstream purification strategies, including membrane-based approaches, to simplify product recovery and enhance overall process sustainability.

Key discussion points from the marketplace were the relevant statement that industrial side streams should be viewed not as waste, but as valuable secondary resources for sustainable chemical production; that economic feasibility is a critical factor for translating green chemistry concepts into industrial reality, particularly through reducing expensive media components such as commercial yeast extract; that the concept of integrating multiple industrial sectors (e.g. biodiesel, bioethanol, and biochemicals) into circular production systems was positively received as a practical green chemistry strategy. The discussions also highlighted the importance of scalability, process robustness, and life cycle sustainability assessment when considering industrial implementation.

Camilla Scipione presented: Optimizing ADH-based Methanol Bioprocesses

Methanol is a promising sustainable carbon source for industrial biotechnology because it can be produced from renewable resources and industrial side streams. However, methanol utilization in Komagataella phaffii (yeast expression system in biotechnology) relies on the native alcohol oxidase (AOX)-based pathway, which is associated with high oxygen demand, heat generation, and oxidative stress, limiting industrial scalability. This project focuses on developing alternative methanol utilization strategies and optimizing cultivation conditions to improve process robustness, reducing oxygen and energy demand, and supporting more sustainable C1-based bioprocesses.

Key take-home messages were that the reduction of oxygen demand and improving process robustness are important challenges for industrial-scale methanol-based bioprocesses. Alternative methanol assimilation pathways could improve scalability and energy efficiency compared to the native AOX-based metabolism. The integration of metabolic engineering with bioprocess optimization is essential for developing viable industrial applications.

Katharina Kocevski presented: Green and Sustainable Chemistry in an International Student Exchange Programme
Since the integration of green and sustainable chemistry into education requires professional development of prospective teachers, the idea of the project is to introduce students to green and sustainable chemistry while learning about possible implementations in other countries. 10 Czech and 10 Austrian students from the respective chemistry teacher training programmes participate in two workshops on Green and Sustainable Chemistry in Vienna and Prague. The workshops focus on experiencing classroom activities and teaching materials that combine inquiry-based learning approaches with Green and Sustainable Chemistry.

As key message from the marketplace was identified: When it comes to green and sustainable chemistry in education, attempts regarding the implementation are often quite scattered. Even if there are official regulations and guidelines, for example in curricula, their realization seems to depend heavily on the individual. Therefore, the implementation of green and sustainable chemistry into education currently relies primarily on dedicated teachers who are deeply interested in the topic.

Alexandra Teplá presented: Using Green Chemistry Contexts to Foster Systems Thinking in Upper Secondary Chemistry Education

The dissertation project investigates how upper secondary students develop Systems Thinking competencies in Green Chemistry contexts. It explores which Green Chemistry contexts are particularly suitable for fostering the understanding of complex chemical, ecological and societal systems. The current focus is on ocean acidification, as it connects observable environmental effects with underlying chemical mechanisms such as pH value, chemical equilibria and the carbon atom cycle.

Key points from the marketplace discussions were: Systems Thinking is essential for understanding and navigating Green Chemistry processes. An important educational goal is preparing future citizens to address sustainability-related chemical challenges. Discussants emphasised that Systems Thinking is becoming an increasingly important competence for the industry and scientific community as well. Parallels were drawn between Systems Thinking and Life Cycle Thinking, particularly regarding the consideration of interconnections, long-term effects and impacts across different systems and processes. At the same time, the discussion highlighted that Systems Thinking is highly complex: it is difficult to define, recognise, describe and assess both in educational and scientific contexts.

Alexander Trischack presented Membrane Technology for Carbon Dioxide Separation

Achieving zero-emission goals in the steel industry, one of the largest carbon dioxide emitters, is particularly challenging due to the reliance on carbon-based reduction reactions in ore processing, which are difficult to replace with non-carbon alternatives. To address this, carbon capture with membrane technology will be explored to separate carbon dioxide from flue gases and complex process gases enabling integration into existing steel production infrastructure. The work will involve reviewing and testing advanced membranes, developing integrated process simulations, and validating performance to create an economically feasible and scalable solution.

The key messages from marketplace discussions highlight that a wide variety of membranes are available, including the importance of the solvents used for production in terms of sustainability. Additionally, process design, particularly the use of multiple membrane types, plays a critical role in the efficiency of carbon capture systems. Furthermore, the impact of impurities in flue gases on membrane separation performance remains an open question.