07 March 2024
“ImPHAct!” for even better bioplastic
A plastic that is completely biodegradable? We are talking about PHA, or polyhydroxyalkenoate. In recent years, significant research has been conducted on this innovative bioplastic that can be obtained from industrial wastewater. Think of the residual streams of a brewery or a potato manufacturer. These projects have already led to significant progress in PHA production, including successful pilot-scale tests and the establishment of a demonstration plant in Dordrecht.
29 February 2024
MNEXT and Looop are committed to sustainable collaboration
Collaboration yields the most success when it is sustainable, with partners that can be relied upon. This is why MNEXT, the Center of Expertise for materials and energy transition, and Looop, an expert in valorizing waste streams, have agreed to a strategic partnership. What does this mean in practice?
20 February 2024
Associate professors at MNEXT
At MNEXT, we currently have 7 professorships, each led by a professor. Recently, we have also introduced associate professors—individuals who work at the lector level but focus on a specific field within the professorship. This allows us to delve deeper into themes that are important to MNEXT. We spoke with our recently appointed associate professors, Miaomiao Zhou, Qian Zhou and Tanja Moerdijk about their motivations and plans.
29 January 2024
Future Rethinkers present: the future
Thousands of people, including none other than Queen Máxima, walked on the unique floor tiles made from recycled thermoset biocomposites during the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. Researcher Lennart Zoeter from the HZ research group Biobased Building at MNEXT created these special tiles for the OPZuid project BRIC. "It may sound simple, but recycling a thermoset composite is incredibly challenging."
23 January 2024
Protein of Columbus
A new project for the Biobased Resources & Energy research group at MNEXT. The project, named "Protein of Columbus," contributes to the protein transition, aiming to shift from animal- to more plant-based protein production. This project focuses on optimizing the use of by-products generated during the cultivation of protein-rich crops, with the goal of establishing a realistic revenue model for various stakeholders in the chain.
19 December 2023
Fishing floats made of PHA bioplastics
Have you ever thought that a solution to our plastic problem could come from wastewater? With the Interreg North-West Europe project WOW!, that's exactly what's happening! Wastewater often contains sugars, fatty acids, and starch that can be converted into PHA bioplastic by bacteria. WOW! has previously demonstrated the possibility of producing PHA based on sewage, and this time, the focus was on residual streams from food processing industries.
06 July 2022
Students take the stage
Practice-oriented research plays a role in the material and energy transition that should not be underestimated. This not only relates to the knowledge that is gained in research projects, but especially also to the place where that knowledge ends up; at the students. Every year, no fewer than 80 students participate in the most intensive form of CoE BBE, namely an internship. For 20 weeks, the students fully participate in a research project as a graduate or in an internship. Each and every one of them ambassadors in the aforementioned transition.
21 June 2022
Pyrochem through the eyes of a student
Breed lachend en enthousiast vertellend zit ze voor ons. “Jazeker, het begin was lastig. De corona-maatregelen, moeite met het vinden van huisvesting, je draai zien te vinden in een onbekend land en een andere cultuur.” Ga er maar aan staan als 22-jarige bachelor student uit het Braziliaanse Belo Horizonte. Gelukkig ging het stof snel liggen en vond ze, te midden van studenten en collega’s van CoE BBE, al snel haar draai. Nu is het aftellen tot de terugreis alweer begonnen. “Ik neem een onvergetelijke ervaring mee terug naar Brazilië. Bagage die ik hopelijk kan gebruiken om ook thuis stapjes te zetten in duurzame ontwikkeling van chemische processen.”
05 April 2022
Available knowledge on renewable fuels bundled in short and attractive knowledge clips
To achieve a climate neutral and circular economy in 2050, a switch to green raw materials for chemicals, materials and fuels is needed. In all these chains, the currently used fossil raw materials must be replaced. To show the possibilities and opportunities of renewable fuels to entrepreneurs and students, short knowledge clips have been developed.
07 February 2022
It’s not easy being green
28 December 2021
Tool launched for circular use of sewage
Sewage contains valuable substances that can be used as raw materials for biobased products. Think of fully biodegradable bioplastics, biochar or biodiesel. But where do you start? As part of the Interreg North-West Europe WOW! project, Avans University of Applied Sciences has developed a tool that answers the question: which valuable substances can I recover at my sewage treatment plants? The tool is designed to provide employees in the water sector with a simple tool in the decision-making process towards a more biobased and circular approach.
01 December 2021
Save the date – Inaugural Lecture Jappe de Best
On February 3rd Jappe de Best, professor of Biobased Resources & Energy, will be presenting his inaugural lecture. Prior to the inaugural lecture a minisymposium is organized by the research group Biobased Resources & Energy which will take you on a journey of some of their recent projects