Markus Götz: Götz, M: How can the "Valley of Death" be overcome in proces, Flexibler Einband

Klappentext

To tackle the climate crisis, greenhouse gas emissions from fossil sources must be stopped, and biobased chemicals and materials must be promoted. This requires a transformation from a petroleum-based economy to a bioeconomy. In the chemical industry, this shift has been referred to as "Green Chemistry" since the 1990s, but only a small fraction of chemicals are currently biobased. This dissertation examines, using the example of a lignocellulose biorefinery that produces platform chemicals like hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from Miscanthus, the obstacles to its implementation. A major challenge is the "valley of death," caused by a lack of investment in technology transfer from research to practice.

Using business design and literature studies, it is shown that commercialization fails due to a lack of evidence for scalability, economic viability, and sustainability. The study tests the lignocellulose biorefinery concept for scalability and feasibility. Simulations demonstrate scalability. A techno-economic analysis (TEA) considers the necessary biomass supply and refutes concerns about biomass availability. The work also addresses the economic viability of the products. A value-based pricing model shows how higher prices for biobased chemicals can be justified. The environmental sustainability is evaluated through a life cycle assessment (LCA), which identifies Miscanthus as more advantageous compared to fructose.

By integrating transdisciplinary methodologies, including process engineering, chemistry, agricultural sciences, economics, and innovation management, a comprehensive concept for a biorefinery is developed. This provides a foundation for attracting investors and partners and bringing innovative technologies into practice.