Environmental (bio)technology

Microbial Production Technology and Bioactive Formulations

Due to the diversity and specificity of their metabolic activities microorganisms are suitable for the development of sustainable processes and products in the fields of environmental biotechnology, biorefinery and agriculture. We are working on the production of biobased chemicals and polymers, the development of microbial additives for agricultural applications (animal feed, plant protection) and the production and formulation of microbial biomass and enzymes. Our activities focus on the development of microbial bioprocesses. Moreover there is the option of a practical implementation on a larger scale at the fermentation pilot plant of the Institute of Environmental Biotechnology. Contact: Dr. Markus Neureiter Further information: www.ifa-tulln.boku.ac.at/en/institut-fuer-umweltbiotechnologie/

Enzyme technology

Enzymes are highly specific biological catalysts that increase the rate of virtually all the chemical reactions in living organisms. We study their role in biodegradation and exploit this knowledge to develop enzyme based sustainable processes for distinct areas ranging from biomaterial processing to environmental protection

Contact: Univ.Prof. Georg Gübitz

Further information: www.ifa-tulln.boku.ac.at/en/institut-fuer-umweltbiotechnologie/

Biomaterial Technology

Biomaterial Technology in our institute aims at developing innovative materials for industrial and biomedical applications using bio-based technologies. Armed with expertise in Microbiology and Biotechnology, and equipped with the state-of-the-art Biomaterial Laboratory our team is:

• Developing biotechnical processes for producing natural and synthetic functional materials with hydrophobic, antioxidant or antimicrobial properties, and exploiting lignin as a raw material in polymer formulations (adhesives, paints, coatings etc.)
• Synthesizing polysaccharide based multi-bio-responsive hydrogels with in-built antimicrobial and antioxidant systems (chronic wound dressing hydrogels, catheters with antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties) and nanoparticles (phenolic functionalized chitosan microspheres for iron overload therapy).
• Synthesizing bio-responsive systems for infection detection and oxidative stress monitoring.

Contact: Priv.Doz. Dr.  Gibson Stephen Nyanhongo

Further information: www.ifa-tulln.boku.ac.at/en/institut-fuer-umweltbiotechnologie/

Bioenergy and Environmental technology

The Division of Agricultural Engineering is part of the Department of Sustainable Agricultural
Systems at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna. The Division’s objective
is to develop sustainable innovations by means of inclusion of “high-tech” agricultural methods.
An interdisciplinary team brings scientific and consulting competence to co-operations with
industry, farmers, government and NGOs.

The working group „Bioenergy and Environmental technology“ focuses on the sustainable
production of raw materials and bioenergy from agricultural biomass and its by-products. The
group’s scope covers the complete process chain from the cultivation of biomass to its harvest
and storage and to its material and energetic uses.

Contact: Dr. Alexander Bauer

Further information: www.nas.boku.ac.at/en/ilt/