As part of the three-year collaborative project, researchers from the Straubing Campus of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the University of Münster are working together with the industrial partner BASF to develop a sustainable alternative to fossil-based thickeners. The project is funded with approximately €1.5 million by the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). Recently, the project kick-off meeting with the participating scientists took place at the TUM Campus Straubing for Biotechnology and Sustainability (TUMCS).
The goal of SuReMo is to replace petroleum-based polyacrylates with bio-based, biodegradable polymers—without compromising performance, stability, or skin feel. These novel thickeners are based on natural sugar compounds, known as exopolysaccharides, which are produced by microorganisms from renewable raw materials such as sugar, glycerol, or plant residues.
At the heart of the project is an innovative “mix-and-match” platform: different variants of biopolymers can be specifically combined so that their properties can be precisely tailored to various applications.
Industrial feasibility and economic viability
“Our approach combines cutting-edge biotechnology with the concrete requirements of industry,” explains Prof. Dr. Volker Sieber, project coordinator at TUMCS and head of the Chair of Chemistry of Biogenic Resources. “We aim to demonstrate that sustainable alternatives can not only replace fossil-based products, but in many cases even improve upon them.”
In addition to sustainability, industrial feasibility and economic viability are also key priorities. The polymers are to be produced efficiently via fermentation, purified without the use of solvents, and ultimately manufactured in existing industrial facilities. Initial applications in personal care products as well as in wall paints have already shown promising results.
The SuReMo project thus makes an important contribution to the transformation of the chemical industry toward greater sustainability—and demonstrates how cutting-edge research at German universities, in collaboration with industrial partners, is developing innovative solutions for everyday applications.