Laboratory Infrastrucutre

Process development and analytics across the entire biotechnological value chain.

Our laboratory facilities span several hundred square meters and are equipped with high-end apparatuses and analytical systems covering all major stages of bioprocess engineering – from biomass pretreatment to fermentation and downstream processing. The total infrastructure reflects investments in the multi-million euro range and supports both fundamental research and application-oriented development.

Key Equipment for Bioprocess Development

Biomass Pretreatment:
Organosolv and Acetosolv systems from 80 mL to 50 L scale, silage setups, drying ovens, screw presses
Mechanical size reduction via cutting mills, planetary ball mills, and high-pressure homogenizers

Bioreactor Systems:
Lab-scale stirred-tank bioreactors (1–50 L) with online monitoring
Custom-built airlift, hydrogen, and modular gas fermentation reactors

Downstream Processing:

• Standard filtration and chromatography setups
• Specialized systems including:
• Supercritical CO₂ extraction (scCO₂)
• Liquid–liquid centrifugation
• Automated tangential flow filtration (TFF)
• Multi-column FPLC systems

Our laboratories are equipped with an extensive range of instruments for the separation and purification of biomolecules, natural products, and biobased intermediates. We combine conventional and advanced downstream operations to develop scalable and efficient purification strategies.

Chromatographic & Filtration Systems

• Automated preparative chromatography (FPLC) with multi-column capability, pH monitoring, multi-gradient programming and temperature control in a dedicated cold lab
• Crossflow micro-, ultra-, and nanofiltration system with programmable diafiltration sequences and real-time process control
• Hollow-fiber ultrafiltration modules and cartridge/plate filtration units for flexible clarification and concentration steps

Advanced Separation Technologies

• Automated four-channel solid-phase extraction system for supercritical fluid extraction
• Distillation and extraction columns (bubble cap, sieve tray, and packed bed columns) for thermally driven separations
• High-gradient magnetic separators for selective product recovery and cell separation

Mechanical Disruption & Product Processing

• Bead mills with variable impeller configurations for cell disruption and nanoparticle synthesis
• High-pressure homogenizer for microbial cell disruption and emulsification processes
• Centrifuges with cooling options and up to 2 L capacity for harvesting and phase separation

Our facilities include versatile bioreactor systems and temperature-controlled environments for the controlled conversion of renewable feedstocks into bioproducts. We cover a wide range of operating conditions, from microbial fermentations to enzymatic hydrolysis and advanced microreactor technologies.

Bioreactor Platforms

• Stirred-tank bioreactors (2–50 L) with inline monitoring and control
• Automated, cooled sampling system for time-resolved process analytics
• Air-lift and loop reactors for shear-sensitive cultures and gas fermentation
• Torque-controlled hydrolysis reactor with online analytics for viscosity and conversion monitoring
• Wavebag platform with temperature control for perfusion and cell expansion

Controlled Environments

• Constant climate chambers for precise cultivation under stable environmental conditions
• Heated incubators with rotation mixers for small-scale fermentation and enzymatic conversions

Miniaturized Reaction Technologies

• Magnetic microreactor platform for continuous catalytic and enzymatic reactions at low volumes
• Ideal for reaction screening, kinetic studies, and rapid prototyping in bioprocess development

Our laboratory develops and characterizes biobased materials from renewable resources such as lignin, cellulose, plant fibers, and chitosan. We integrate process engineering, materials testing, and life-cycle considerations to design biodegradable, recyclable, and climate-resilient products.

Processing & Prototyping Capabilities

• Hot press unit for the production of fiber-reinforced bio-composites (e.g. straw, grass, lignin)
• Laboratory-scale papermaking system for producing custom biogenic paper and cardboard
• In-house formulation of biopolymers from lignin, cellulose, and chitosan, including functional surface modifications
• Development and testing of bio-based adhesives for packaging and fiberboard applications

Material Testing & Performance Analysis

• Digital tensile testing machine (up to 20 kN) for mechanical strength characterization
• Microscopic surface analysis for evaluating fiber-matrix interactions and material uniformity
• Rheometry and viscosity profiling for pastes, gels, and adhesive formulations
• Hardness testing, water resistance evaluation, and aging studies in climate chambers for durability assessment

Our lab infrastructure integrates state-of-the-art automation and modeling tools for the development, control, and optimization of biotechnological processes. We combine real-time sensor networks with virtual modeling environments to enable data-driven decision-making and predictive bioprocess design.

Automation & Laboratory Control Systems

• Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and Arduino-based systems for process automation
• Laboratory computers equipped with hundreds of sensors for real-time data acquisition (e.g., temperature, pH, gas flow, torque, CO₂, conductivity)
• 3D printing technologies: Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Stereolithography (SLA) for lab-scale component prototyping and custom setups

Modeling & Simulation Environments

• Berkeley Madonna for dynamic modeling of biochemical reaction kinetics and reactor systems
• Intelligen SuperPro Designer for integrated process modeling, mass and energy balances, and techno-economic assessment (TEA)
• Additional licenses for statistical experimental design and data analysis