New projects & project info
July 2024Innovation in 3D Printing: Sustainable Insulation and Absorption Panels from Natural Fibers
A consortium of three companies and a university has launched a groundbreaking project under the ZIM program (Central Innovation Program for SMEs) to develop form-flexible, sustainable insulation and absorption panels. The project is funded by the ZIM program and combines the expertise of GNS, Additivum, Lithium Designers GmbH, and the Institute for Printing Machinery and Printing Processes (IDD) of TU Darmstadt.
The project "Development of Form-Flexible, Manufacturable Insulation and Absorption Panels from Sustainable Natural Fibers Using Additive Manufacturing and Parametric Design" represents a significant step towards sustainable building innovations and underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration.
Source: Lithium Designers GmbH
June 2024Student Internships
In our R&D projects, we offer student and professional internships in the field of sustainable products and processes in the bioeconomy. For example, we offer tasks in the area of developing bio-based reaction mixtures for use in 3D printing. In laboratory experiments, you can sometimes experience surprisingly beautiful things, such as this spontaneous star-like folding of an oily mass. The aim is to transfer development work from the laboratory to the pilot plant scale.
We look forward to receiving your application at info@gns-halle.de
December 2023 More energy from digested sludge - advice for sewage treatment plants
Municipal wastewater treatment plants are increasingly interested in reducing their energy requirements for wastewater treatment and sludge treatment and covering them by generating their own energy from sewage sludge disturbance. The possibilities are diverse, but there are also numerous process engineering tasks to be solved to exploit this potential.
A first step is to examine the residual gas potential, which we determine in our laboratory through fermentation tests. Furthermore, there is an energy balance basis to evaluate different technical
variants of process optimization. Co-fermentation or high-load digestion also offer opportunities to increase efficiency.
Joint project for chemical production at biogas plants launched, 02-2023
Our team looks forward to working together on this project, where we will carry out the technical-procedural, economic and ecological evaluation for implementation on an industrial scale and will be responsible for the coordination.
Researchers from the Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum (DBFZ) and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) have developed the process in which valuable organic acids are extracted from residues before being used in a biogas plant and processed into sustainable products. This is now being scaled up to a pilot scale together with industrial partners in the "CapUp" project.
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK).
Further industrial partners:BALANCE Renewable Energies GmbH, VNG AG, Fuchs Lubricants Co., Kelterei Sachsenobst GmbH
Visit website: www.dbfz.de
abonocare@ alliance completes R&D phase with demonstrators, Dec. 2022
Organic residues are turned into sustainable fertilizers.
In the abonocare® alliance, we have been working together with partners from industry and research on new solutions for the utilization of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus that were previously lost. Together with other companies, we were able to show that new, environmentally friendly and resource-saving technologies can be used to create economic recycling chains, sustainable fertilizer products and make them available again for agricultural production. Circular agriculture can therefore be efficient, protect the environment and also contribute to reducing CO2 emissions.
Visit website: www.abonocare.de
It is the time of the wine harvest in the model project, 09-2022
Our model project for sustainable viticulture is entering its final round. With the yield measurements of the vines, the scientific investigations on the effect of the Magaverde mulch paper on the vineyard in Freyburg-Unstrut over two years (2021/2022) will now be completed.
One thing is certain: the biodegradable mulch paper reduces weed growth, keeps the soil moist longer and improves the vitality and yield of the vines. In the two years we had a good cooperation with the winegrowers and were able to incorporate their experience into our product development.
The project is funded by the BMWK as part of the model project "Unternehmen Revier".
Successful start to the season on the vineyard with mulch mats against weeds, 05-2021
Already many thousands of mats delivered in Germany and France!
At the end of April, the installation of the first sustainable Magaverde® mulch mats and mulch papers by the Freyburg-Unstrut winegrowers' association began in the model project "Sustainable viticulture in the Saale-Unstrut winegrowing region" (funded in the federal program "Unternehmen Revier"). The material, which is laid out under the vines, is to be used particularly on steep slopes and effectively prevent weed growth. At the same time, rainwater is thus directed directly to the vine trunk, seeping through the mats, keeping the soil moist and protecting it from drying out. The use of herbicides such as glyphosate can be dispensed with.
The project has already attracted a great deal of attention and many interested parties. Interest is also high at Lake Constance and in various French regions such as Champagne. We are particularly pleased about the cooperation with the German-French Societies (DFG) in Friedrichshafen and Halle (Saale). In the fall of 2021, a German-French exchange of experiences on "Green Ways of Viticulture" will be organized by the DFG Halle (supported by the German-French Civic Fund "Fonds Citroyen Franco-Allemand").
Magaverde® bio fibre paper is an input for organic farming, 02-2021
FiBL has confirmed that our Magaverde bio fibre paper meets the requirements for use in organic farming, following the directive "VO (EG) 834/2007". The sustainable, biodegradable products such as mulch papers and plant pots for agriculture & horticulture as well as packaging are based on process and product developments by GNS.
Waste assessment with waste checklists in the IPA portal, 01-2021
How can you quickly find out whether an empty gas cylinder is a hazardous waste, and where to put it? In the Information Portal Waste Assessment (IPA) you will find the answer. To ensure that this information is always up to date, it is updated regularly. The waste fact sheet "1605 and 1501 Gases in pressure vessels and used chemicals – gases" was revised by GNS on behalf of the Landesanstalt für Umwelt Baden-Württemberg LUBW and is now online. We have already revised several such fact sheets for the IPA portal.
Launch of the Magaverde platform for sustainable products and packaging, 10-2020
Magaverde bio fibre products help prevent microplastics in the environment, conserve natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, are fully biodegradable and can be recycled. A wide variety of products and packaging can be created via paper production and fibre processing processes. Visit our website and become a partner or customer. We now offer our sustainable products made from regional natural materials of an environmentally sound cascade and circular economy together with partners on our new platform www.magaverde.de
On the way to the circular economy with tested technologies, 09-2019
GNS demonstrates innovative technologies for the recovery of plant nutrients from biogenic waste in the EU project SYSTEMIC. At five demonstration sites across Europe, the SYSTEMIC project is demonstrating new approaches for recycling bio-waste into energy, secondary raw materials, fertilisers and organic soil improvers. With the FaserPlus plant of the BENAS biogas plant, GNS has been involved as one of the 5 demonstration sites since 2017. Find out more about the novel nutrient recovery technologies on the PROJECT WEBSITE and subscribe to the newsletters. These pioneering facilities play a crucial role in the evaluation of new closed-loop technologies. SYSTEMIC will promote the introduction of closed-loop processes for biowaste in Europe.
New video of Systemic: watch video
Directly on YouTube
Fibre production from biogas plFibre production from biogas plants applicable on a large scale, 06-2018ants applicable on a large scale, 06-2018
The GNS-led BioEconomy Cluster project BiogasFaserPlus has been completed. After intensive research on pilot apparatus, the existing plant for digestate treatment system GNS at the BENAS biogas plant Ottersberg was converted into a FaserPlus plant and operated continuously with high operational reliability for many months with 8 to 10 t/h of the fermentation product.
First sample batch production of biogas fibres, 06-2016
Biogas Faser Plus joint project
After various technical adjustments to the apparatus and settings, the pilot plant for ammonia removal from fermentation residues containing fibres could be operated continuously with a throughput of 2 m³/h. Sample batches of biogas fibres were produced and handed over to the partner Kronospan. The first sample boards were produced from these biogas fibres. The material properties are now being investigated. Parallel to the test operation of the pilot plant, extensive physicochemical investigations of fermentation residues and factors of influence of technical treatment steps on the fibre quality were carried out. Based on this, the pilot plant will be further optimised. It is planned to deliver another sample batch of biogas fibres to Kronospan with the optimised pilot plant at the end of August/beginning of September 2016.
Start of the joint project for the development of high-quality materials from biogas fibres in the BMBF's BioEconomy cluster of excellence, 04-2015
On 16 April 2015, the kick-off meeting of the project took place in Halle/Saale at GNS mbH as research network coordinator. The project volume is 2.6 million euros with a duration of 1.5 years.
From fermentation product to wood material – innovative use of fermentation products, 10-2014
On 9 September 2014, the final presentation of the project "Material use of lignocellulosic fermentation products for wood-based materials" took place in Cologne. This demonstrated the technical and economic feasibility of the material use of fibre-containing residues from biogas production in the production of particleboard, fibreboard and laminate.
Efficient fertiliser management with new fertiliser products from digestate
Transporting digestate over long distances can be expensive. The production of mineral fertilisers worthy of transport opens up new ways for cost-effective and low-emission N, P fertiliser management. At our fermentation residue processing plants, approx. 320 kg/d of ammonium nitrogen are removed from 100 m³/d of fermentation residue. This produces 5.5 m³ of ammonium sulphate fertiliser and 1.6 t of carbonate lime fertiliser. Apart from inexpensive FGD gypsum, no additives are used for this. Both products are approved fertilisers according to DüMV and are produced with consistent quality. The ammonium sulphate solution – ASL is suitable as a combined N-/S-fertiliser for all crops. The possibility of foliar spraying is particularly interesting, as no etching effect is to be expected with our product. It can also be used in mixtures with other liquid fertilisers and plant protection products. Carbonate lime is effective in the long term and is particularly suitable for liming up and raising the pH value of light and medium-heavy soils. It thus supports the nutrient utilisation of other fertilisers. Due to the adherent ASL, the lime contains an additional fertiliser value of nitrogen and sulphur.
