Biopolymer cleaner
Biopolymers such as alginic acid, xanthan gum or carrageenan, as sustainably producible and ecologically attractive raw materials, offer an excellent opportunity to thoroughly or at least partially replace products with a problematic eco-balance against the background of dwindling resources and substances and processes that have so far been harmful to the environment and health. Alginates, for example, are obtained from renewable, marine raw materials by harvesting brown algae from kelp forests up to 80 m high or offshore algae farms or are produced biotechnologically with microorganisms.
The use of hydrocolloidal biopolymers has turned out to be particularly interesting for the development of cleaning agents, especially descaling agents, because these biopolymers have calcium-binding properties. The demand for cleaning agents is vast; in Germany alone, about 1,300,000 tonnes of cleaning agents are sold annually only to private households. In the commercial context, the cleaning services sector generates per year several billion euros.
The burden of limescale deposits depends widely on the hardness of the drinking water in the household. On ceramics, glass, enamel or plastics - limescale is deposited wherever water dries in small or large quantities on surfaces. Limescale deposits not only impair the visual appearance of the surfaces, they also pose various risks. The stubborn deposits considerably impair the function of pipelines, fittings, technical apparatus and machines, which grow stronger over time. Limescale deposits are also an ideal breeding ground for microorganisms of all kinds. The build-up of proteins and fatty substances in lime deposits also favours the settlement and multiplication of bacteria (e.g. legionella).
Current decalcification methods are based on very harsh conditions, which means they entail a certain potential danger for the user and are not convenient for sensitive surfaces. Common limescale cleaning agents contain aggressive acids and are strongly acidic, with a pH value between one and four. Most of the cleaning agents established on the market additionally contain substances for softening, which are supposed to strengthen the cleaning performance. However, these are difficult or incompletely degradable and harmful to the environment.
At the Department of Bioengineering (Sciences) at the University of applied sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf (HSWT), Dr Jörg Schäffer and Nikolas Trimpe, under the management of Prof. Sabine Grüner-Lempart, are developing sustainably produced and environmentally friendly cleaning agents for decalcification, based on biopolymers. In addition to the biotechnological cultivation of various algae in photobioreactors, the primary investigations focus is the selection and modification of suitable biopolymers to optimally utilise the calcium-binding properties and thus enable the elimination of aggressive chemicals. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) is funding this research project, which is being carried out in cooperation with the medium-sized company HWR Chemie GmbH. HWR Chemie has already been awarded the Blue Angel for developing exceptionally environmentally friendly products in the past.
