1 Zentrum für Umweltforschung und nachhaltige Technologien Prof. Dr. Jorg Thöming, June 2012.

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Zentrum für Umweltforschung und Zentrum für Umweltforschung und

nachhaltige Technologiennachhaltige Technologien

www.uft.uni-bremen.de

Prof. Dr. Jorg Thöming, June 2012

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• Central scientific facility of the University of Bremen

• 6 departments

• 120 employees

• Interdisciplinary environmental research and teaching

BiochemistsChemistsBiologists Engineers

Center for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology (UFT)

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Chemistry & Biology Production Engineering Social Sciences

Faculties

Sustainable Chemistry Dr. Stefan Stolte

Environmental EngineeringProf. Norbert Räbiger

SustainableChemical EngineeringProf. Jorg Thöming

Ecology Prof. Juliane Filser

Physical ChemistryProf. Marcus Bäumer

BiochemistryProf. Ralf Dringen

artec - Sustainability Research CenterCooperation

Central Scientific Unit of the University

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Partners in the

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… the University‘s Guiding Principles

• High quality of teaching and research

• Societal responsibility and practical relevance

• Interdisciplinarity

• Internationalisation of teaching and research

• Gender equality

• Environmental responsibility

UFT is committed to…

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… the University‘s Guiding Principles

• High quality of teaching and research

• Societal responsibility and practical relevance

• Interdisciplinarity

• Internationalisation of teaching and research

• Gender equality

• Environmental responsibility

UFT is committed to…

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… the University‘s Guiding Principles

• High quality of teaching and research

• Societal responsibility and practical relevance

• Interdisciplinarity

• Internationalisation of teaching and research

• Gender equality

• Environmental responsibility

UFT is committed to…

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Building up the Future

Engineering Chemistry Biology Biochemistry

Teaching

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Engineering• BSc Production Engineering

– Chemistry– Chemical Engineering– Process optimization

• BSc Industrial Engineering – Chemistry & Thermodynamics

• MSc Production Engineering &MSc Industrial Engineering– Chemical Engineering– Membrane technology– Fuel cell technology

Section• Prof. Thöming

(Chemical Engineering)

Teaching Examples

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Biology• BSc Biology:

– Zoology– Ecology– Experimental Planning and Design– Statistics

• MSc Ecology [and ISATEC*]

– Fundamentals of Scientific Work– Field Ecology– Soil Ecology– Ecological Risk Assessment and Modelling– Sustainability Research

* International Studies in Aquatic Tropical Ecology

Section• Prof. Filser

(Ecology)

Teaching Examples

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Coupling of Teaching & Research

Engineering, Chemistry, Biology,

Biochemistry & Ecology

• Lab rotations • Student research projects• BSc/MSc theses• Integration of research results in lectures • Student courses related to ongoing research• Courses for PhD students

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From molecular Design ….

50 nm50 nm

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… to technical applications

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Research Areas

1. Design of Green Nanoparticles

& Sustainable Chemicals

2. Selective Separation & Reaction Technology

3. Safe Soils and Land Use

Sustainable and Biocompatible

Products and Processes

Vortex-mixer

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Chances

gNano Methods

Risks50 nm50 nm

Inherent safe

nanomaterials

Raising efficiency &

Conservation of

natural resources

Research focus: Green Nanoparticles

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Hazard assessment of nanoparticles

Structural diversityBiological complexity

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Structure-Activity-Relationships

Molecular Interaction Potential

H-DonorH-Acceptor

Charge transfer

Dipole moment

Hydrophobic potential

Negative Charge

Positive Charge

ReactivityStereochemistry

Configuration

Conformation

Hybridisation

Chiral centers,axes, planes

E/Z-Isomerism

Rotational freedomSteric hindrance

Tautomerism

Bond typesFunctional groups

pKa-Value

Transformation of functional groupsMetabolism

N N OH+

Cl

H-bond base

H-bond acid

+

-

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Throughput

Molecules(Proteins,DNA)

Cells

Tissues/Organs

Organisms

Population

Mesocosm

Level of complexity

in vitro screening

aquatic assays in vivo

terrestrial assays/multi species/microcosms

http://www.nih.go.jp, 2008

http://www.nih.go.jp, 2008

>450

Reducing biological complexity

19Justyna Luczak et al., Green Chem., 2010, 12, 593

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Engineering• Structure activity relationships

– Nanoparticles– Ionic liquids: eco-toxicity and biodegradation

• Reaction technology– Microreactor synthesis– Membrane reactors– Process integration

• Separation technology– Nanostructured gas separation membranes– Regeneration and recycling– Dielectrophoresis– Fluid dynamic optimization

Section• Prof. Thöming

(Chem. Engineering)

Research Examples