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Festo and Q.Ant have entered into a strategic partnership on the road to a more circular economy. The companies want to develop materials that are easier to compost and are focussing in particular on the industrial cultivation of biomass from algae.
Algae are already extremely efficient in their natural photosynthesis outdoors and bind ten times more carbon dioxide than land plants. In bioreactors with appropriate sensors, control technology and automation, the The efficiency of algae can be increased a hundredfold compared to land plants. The resulting substances can be used, among other things, as Raw material for pharmaceuticals, packaging or cosmetics and ultimately recycle them in a climate-neutral way. Algae therefore harbour considerable potential for the circular economy.
„Our aim is to make a decisive contribution to improving the quality of life of present and future generations. Thanks to our automation technology and our expertise in control technology, we are an ideal partner for the large-scale cultivation of biomass, with the aim of developing materials that will be easier to compost in the future. We are thus opening a whole new chapter in our Bionic Learning Network.“
Prof Dr Volker Nestle, Head of Development LifeTech at Festo
A major challenge is to determine the exact amount of biomass. Festo therefore relies on quantum sensor technology from Q.Aant. „Our quantum-based particle sensors enable new processes, applications and industrial products. By using them for industrial photosynthesis, we are demonstrating the future potential of this technology,“ says Dr Michael Förtsch, CEO of Q.Ant. A prototype setup of a plant with quantum technology will be presented at the Hannover Messe 2022.
The sensor gives information about the growth of the organisms in real time. The algae are fed to it automatically and continuously using special microfluidic components from Festo, such as pumps for the precise control of minute quantities of liquid. The quantum sensor is able to optically analyse individual cells so that the quantity of biomass can be precisely determined. In addition He analyses the cells for their vitality with the help of artificial intelligence. Only then is it possible to react proactively to process events and intervene to regulate them.
Source: Festo
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