The new ZELLCHEMING Conference “Cellulose Based Materials – From Science to Technology” reflects the growing importance of a bioeconomy strategy based on renewable raw materials. Cellulose, the main component of plant cell walls and thus the most abundant organic compound worldwide, will play a key role in the future. Therefore, the potential of cellulose-based materials and materials will be the focus of the event from June 26-29, 2022, at the RheinMain CongressCenter (RMCC) in Wiesbaden.
“With this conference, we intend to bridge the gap for the first time between innovative research on cellulose-based as well as cellulose-derived polymers and scientific work in the field of probably the best-known material built from cellulose: paper,” explains Prof. Dr. Markus Biesalski, Professor of Macromolecular Chemistry and Paper Chemistry at TU Darmstadt and co-initiator of the event.
The conference is aimed at both interested scientists and colleagues from industry. It is a joint initiative of professors of the Technical University of Darmstadt and the University of Jena as well as the association ZELLCHEMING with its technical committees, based on two pillars: On the one hand, on the long-standing and close connection to the wood- and recycled fiber-based paper industry and, on the other hand, on the intensive contacts to companies and scientists in the field of cellulose chemistry and the use of cellulose polymers in sustainable products, which the association ZELLCHEMING has maintained for many years.
“The paper industry is intensively engaged in innovative applications for the fiber as well as for side streams of the production process, thus driving the further expansion of the bioeconomy strategy,” explains Prof. Dr.-Ing. Samuel Schabel, Chair of Paper Technology and Mechanical Process Engineering (PMV) at TU Darmstadt. “An important focus is on innovative processes for the production as well as recycling of paper, in addition to producing innovative and conventional paper products as CO2-neutrally as possible.”
Prof. Dr. Thomas Heinze, director of the Center of Excellence for Polysaccharides at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, adds, “The active connection of both strands and thus the possibility to discover and leverage new, future potentials in the field of sustainable cellulose-based or -derived materials and materials is an important factor that led us to set up this international conference.”
The event will bring together industry and research institutes in the fields of chemistry, physics, and engineering for an active exchange. The program includes lectures by internationally renowned representatives of science and industry. Young scientists will be actively involved and present their own work as a poster show.
“The international conference offers new opportunities for a close linkage and interaction between academia and industry with reference to the diverse applications for cellulose and cellulose-based materials. In addition, we are looking forward to a close connection with the ZELLCHEMING-Expo 2022, which will take place in parallel,” summarizes Petra Hanke, Managing Director of ZELLCHEMING Service GmbH.
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