Our research projects

Title

Verfahrensentwicklung zur Gewinnung von Faserrohstoffen

Acronym

BioHOCOEX

Start

01.09.2023

End

28.02.2026

Coordinating Institute

Technische Universität Dresden

Contact

Partner

Project team ATB

Allocated to research program

Summary

Up to now, after harvesting and the stationary extraction of the cones (as valuable plant components), hop plants have either been shredded or chopped up and mainly taken to the fields or left to degrade in an uncontrolled natural way. The hop bines, which can be up to six metres long, represent a considerable, hitherto unused biomass potential for material use. For the first time, the BioHOCOEX project aims to develop a technological chain for the material use of hop plants, especially in plastic compounds for injection moulding and extrusion applications, which can be transferred to industry. Based on findings from a preliminary project, promising utilisation routes in the form of hop fibre compounds for extrusion and injection moulding are being investigated in more detail in the BioHOCOEX project. The process-engineering basis of the project is the alternative supply chain via hop bine chaffs to be preserved in a moist state. The necessary basic processes of chopping and storing the biomass for subsequent biogas production have been realised by participating hop farmers or represent known processes for agriculture. Based on scientific expertise in the areas of logistics, storage and initial and further processing into fibrous materials and semi-finished products, the focus of ATBs work in the BioHOCOEX project is on developing a process for qualitatively reproducible extraction and processing of the fibre materials on an industrial scale.

Funding

Funding agency

Grant agreement number