The project aims to recycle municipal biowaste using the example of green waste. To this end, the use of green waste as a raw material in fermentations and the conversion of green waste into electrode materials for electro-biotechnology are being investigated. Both products are to be used further in the sense of green chemistry.



The use of green waste as a raw material for the production of basic and fine chemicals represents an interesting step towards increased value creation. In addition to its current use in biogas plants or composting, the raw material green waste would open up a wide range of possible applications within a biorefinery. It should be particularly emphasized that green waste can be processed in a less energy-intensive way than highly woody raw materials. The industrial implementation of the developed concept would thus result in a link between municipal material flows and the chemical industry.



Electro-biotechnology generally aims to develop energy and raw material-efficient processes to generate energy and basic chemicals. The processes can be divided into microbial fuel cells (MFC) for energy conversion and microbial and enzymatic electrosynthesis (MES or EES) for material production. One of the decisive factors for the success of these processes is the availability of efficient and cost-effective electrodes. These are not yet available. Through the carbonization of municipal waste materials such as green waste, corresponding cost-effective electrode materials are to be produced and tested for their suitability for use in MFCs and MES. If successful, the results could lead to new, more efficient electro-biotechnological processes.



Langsdorf, A., Volkmar, M., Holtmann, D., & Ulber, R. (2021). Material utilization of green waste: a review on potential valorization methods. Bioresources and Bioprocessing, 8(1), 1-26.

 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40643-021-00367-5 



Langsdorf, A., Drommershausen, AL, Volkmar, M., Ulber, R., & Holtmann, D. (2022). Fermentative α-humulene production from homogenized grass clippings as a growth medium. Molecules, 27(24), 8684.

 https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27248684 



Langsdorf, A., Volkmar, M., Ulber, R., Hollmann, F., & Holtmann, D. (2023). Peroxidases from grass clippings for the removal of phenolic compounds from wastewater. Bioresource Technology Reports, 22, 101471.

 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2023.101471 



Langsdorf, A., Schütz, JP, Ulber, R., Stöckl, M., & Holtmann, D. (2024). Production of polyhydroxybutyrate from industrial flue gas by microbial electrosynthesis. Journal of CO2 Utilization, 83, 102800.

 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcou.2024.102800 



Varriale, L., Volkmar, M., Weiermüller, J., & Ulber, R. (2022). Effects of pretreatment on the biocatalysis of renewable resources. Chemie Ingenieur Technik, 94(11), 1818-1826.

 https://doi.org/10.1002/cite.202200137 



Volkmar, M., Maus, AL, Weisbrodt, M., Bohlender, J., Langsdorf, A., Holtmann, D., & Ulber, R. (2023). Municipal green waste as substrate for the microbial production of platform chemicals. Bioresources and Bioprocessing, 10(1), 43.

 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40643-023-00663-2