TY - JOUR A1 - Stolar, Tomislav A1 - Bayram, Dilara A1 - May, Anastasia A1 - Sundermann, Remie A1 - Prinz, Carsten A1 - Meyer, Klas A1 - Myxa, Anett A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana A1 - Emmerling, Franziska T1 - Selective mechanochemical conversion of post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate waste into hcp and fcu UiO-66 metal–organic frameworks N2 - Single-use plastics strongly contribute to plastic pollution, and less than 10% of plastic waste is recycled globally. Here, we present a selective mechanochemical protocol for converting post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) transparent bottles and coloured textile waste into the porous metal–organic framework (MOF) UiO-66 materials. We used time-resolved in situ (TRIS) synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy to monitor the depolymerization of PET during ball milling. To convert disodium terephthalate to UiO-66, we developed base and base-free synthetic routes that lead to fcu and hcp UiO-66 phases, respectively, including the first ever synthesis of hcp UiO-66 by mechanochemistry. Our results demonstrate the potential of mechanochemistry to selectively access fcu and hcp UiO-66 phases using post-consumer PET waste. KW - Mechanochemistry PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-653958 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MR00126E SN - 2976-8683 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) AN - OPUS4-65395 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - RPRT A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana A1 - Beskers, Timo. F. A1 - Myxa, Anett A1 - Pursch, Matthias T1 - Round-robin test for size exclusion chromatography – Data summary N2 - Size exclusion chromatography (SEC or GPC) is one critical component of polymer analysis to meet the increasing requirements in regulatory context – namely, determination of Mn, as well as oligomers of less than 500 g mol-1 and 1000 g mol-1. The underlying test methods (OECD 118/119 and DIN EN ISO 13885 1 to 3) provide a framework for SEC measurements; however, they lack sufficient specificity to obtain accurate results. Previous SEC round robin tests were mostly performed on homopolymers and did not collect data on oligomer contents. A new round robin test was initiated and conceptualized within the Task force “Method Evaluation for Polymer REACh (MeEP)”, an initiative of “Industrieforum Analytik” within the German Chemical Society (GDCh). Samples for this study were selected to represent both easy benchmark polymers as well as real-life, industry-relevant polymer materials. Data collection focused on the regulatory requirements. Distribution of samples, gathering of individual results and evaluation were carried out by BAM. A data summary as initial result is reported here. Further evaluation and interpretation are a part of ongoing research. KW - Size exclusion chromatography KW - Polymers KW - Oligomer content KW - Round-robin test PY - 2026 DO - https://doi.org/10.26272/opus4-65587 SP - 1 EP - 84 PB - Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-65587 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Stolar, Tomislav T1 - Mechanochemical conversion of polyethylene terephthalate into valuable metal-organic frameworks N2 - Single-use plastics are causing plastic pollution, and less than 10% of plastic waste is recycled globally. Here, we present a sustainable mechanochemical1 protocol for converting post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) textile and bottles into the porous metal-organic framework (MOF) UiO-66. We used time-resolved in situ synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy to monitor the depolymerization of PET during ball milling with sodium and potassium hydroxide and water as a liquid additive (Figure 1). For synthesizing UiO-66, we focused on the better performing sodium hydroxide and optimized two distinct synthetic routes to produce high-quality UiO-66. Our results demonstrate the potential of mechanochemistry to enable more circular MOF synthesis using post-consumer PET waste. T2 - The International Symposium on Mechanochemistry (Mech’cheM) 2025: New forces in Mechanochemistry CY - Montpellier, France DA - 04.06.2025 KW - Mechanochemistry KW - Plastic recycling KW - Circular economy PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63943 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana T1 - Challenges of SEC and the necessity of round robin tests N2 - Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) is still the method of choice for determining the molar mass and molar mass distribution of macromolecules. It is a liquid chromatographic technique that separates molecules based on their size, respectively their hydrodynamic volume using a porous stationary phase that allows smaller molecules to pass through the pores while excluding larger molecules. The chromatogram from the size separation can be calibrated using polymers of known molar mass resulting in a relative molar mass distribution curve. From this distribution curve molar mass averages and the oligomer content (percentage of peak area smaller than 1000 g/mol and 500 g/mol) of polymers can be derived. The determination of oligomer content is important, because it is often used in regulatory contexts as a measure of small, mobile and potentially more toxic parts of the polymer. Polymer regulations are of increasing political and societal importance. Regulations often strive for narrow limits. But SEC has rather large error margins of 10-20% for the molar mass determination performed in different laboratories or on different instruments. These variances are well known to all experts and users and have been investigated in several round robin tests in the past. These resulted in DIN and ISO standards which, in our opinion, no longer meet today's requirements. Gaps have been identified that require further harmonization. Different polymer types or classes require different methods. On the other hand, as far as we know, the margins of error in determining oligomer content have not yet been investigated. It is expected that the variation will be rather high. This is because it depends on many factors related to the experimental conditions (column sets used, solvent, temperatures, sample preparation) on the one hand, and the data evaluation mechanisms (choice of baseline and peak limits) on the other. In order to actually measure the error margins and to support this with actual data a round robin test has been performed from June to November 2024 with approx. 40 participating laboratories. Three different solvents were selected, namely THF, DMAc or DMF and water. The samples were selected taking into account a wide range of practical aspects far from narrowly distributed standards: e.g higher distribution range, reduced solubility, included side components, copolymers and dispersions with gel content. In this contribution we will present the detailed concept of this round robin test and first impressions. T2 - 11th International Symposium on the Separation and Characterization of Natural and Synthetic Macromolecules CY - Amsterdam, Netherlands DA - 21.01.2025 KW - Size exclusion chromatography KW - Round robin tests PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-62533 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana T1 - Error margins in the Determination of Molar Mass and Oligomer Content of Polymers N2 - Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) is still the method of choice for determining the molar mass and molar mass distribution of macromolecules. It is a liquid chromatographic technique that separates molecules based on their size, respectively their hydrodynamic volume using a porous stationary phase that allows smaller molecules to pass through the pores while excluding larger molecules. The chromatogram from the size separation can be calibrated using polymers of known molar mass resulting in a relative molar mass distribution curve. From this distribution curve molar mass averages and the oligomer content (percentage of peak area smaller than 1000 g/mol and 500 g/mol) of polymers can be derived. The determination of oligomer content is important, because it is often used in regulatory contexts as a measure of small, mobile and potentially more toxic parts of the polymer. Polymer regulations are of increasing political and social importance. Regulations often set very narrow limits. SEC has rather large error margins of 10-20% for the molar mass determination performed in different laboratories or on different instruments. These variances are well known to all experts and users and have been investigated in several round robin tests in the past. These resulted in DIN and ISO standards which, in our opinion, no longer meet today's requirements. As far as we know, the margins of error in determining oligomer content have not yet been investigated. It is expected that the variation will be rather high. This is because it depends on many factors related to the experimental conditions (column sets used, solvent, temperatures, sample preparation) on the one hand, and the data evaluation mechanisms (choice of baseline and peak limits) on the other. In order to actually measure the error margins and to support this with actual data a round robin test has been performed from June to November 2024 with approx. 40 participating laboratories. Three different solvents were selected, namely THF, DMAc or DMF and water. The samples were selected together with all the experts, taking into account a wide range of practical aspects far from narrowly distributed standards: e.g higher distribution range, reduced solubility, included side components, copolymers and dispersions with gel content. In this contribution we will present the detailed concept of this round robin test and first results. T2 - SETAC Europe 35th Annual Meeting CY - Vienna, Austria DA - 11.05.2025 KW - Size exclusion chromatography KW - REACH KW - Polymers KW - Round Robin Tests PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63307 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana T1 - Limitations of SEC: Strategies for Improved Regulatory Polymer Analysis N2 - Polymers, composed of repeating units called monomers, exhibit a diverse range of properties, with molecular weight distribution (MWD) being particularly important for regulatory risk assessments. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC), or gel permeation chromatography (GPC), is the primary technique for MWD characterization, as detailed in OECD guidelines 118 and 119, along with DIN and ISO standards. However, SEC faces significant shortcomings that complicate the accurate determination of MWD and oligomer content. These limitations include the insolubility of certain polymers, crosslinking, and ultra-high molecular weight characteristics, which can exceed SEC's separation capabilities. The presence of salts or modifiers can further interfere with oligomer content determination, and the availability of appropriate SEC columns and calibration standards limits comparability across laboratories. To enhance SEC's reliability and applicability within regulatory frameworks, innovative methods and strategies are essential. Proposed solutions involve new sample preparation techniques, advanced data interpretation methods, and the establishment of standardized methodologies to promote harmonization. This is especially crucial in light of the expected Polymer REACh (PREACh) legislation, which aims to regulate polymer registration and risk assessment within the European market. Given the anticipated complexity of the registration process, which requires extensive data generation, proactive strategies are needed to address SEC's challenges. Currently, there are no viable alternatives for oligomer content determination, and the unique properties of polymers often necessitate tailored analytical approaches. Without new methodologies and guidelines, the polymer registration process could become burdensome and costly, jeopardizing important products and markets in the EU. Key areas for improvement include extending existing norms to cover a broader range of solvents, addressing high error margins in oligomer content determination, establishing harmonized approaches for dealing with side components, and providing clarity on measuring partially soluble polymers. In conclusion, addressing SEC's limitations through the development of comprehensive guidelines and harmonization is critical for ensuring accurate and efficient polymer analysis, ultimately facilitating smoother registration processes. T2 - SETAC Europe 35th Annual Meeting CY - Vienna, Austria DA - 11.05.2025 KW - Size exclusion chromatography KW - Polymers KW - REACH PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63309 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Stolar, Tomislav T1 - Upcycling waste PET bottles to porous UiO-66 by mechanochemistry N2 - Single-use plastics are causing plastic pollution, and less than 10% of plastic waste gets recycled globally. Most of it ends up in landfills or gets incinerated in a highly unsustainable manner. Here, I will present a sustainable mechanochemical protocol for the chemical upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to porous UiO-66 metal-organic framework (MOF). In the first step, PET is ball-milled with sodium hydroxide and undergoes alkaline hydrolysis to disodium terephthalate (Na2TP). Time-resolved in situ monitoring of ball milling reaction by synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction shows the appearance of crystalline Na2TP after 20 min of milling. However, ex-situ analysis at different milling times by gel permeation chromatography reveals that the depolymerisation step needs more milling for completion. After two hours of ball milling, there are only trace amounts of leftover PET. For upcycling to UiO-66, a zirconium acetate cluster is added to Na2TP together with liquid additives and after milling for T2 - International Conference on Resource Chemistry 2024 CY - Alzenau, Germany DA - 13.03.2024 KW - Mechanochemistry KW - Plastic recycling KW - Circular economy PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-62105 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Fink, Friedrich A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana T1 - From bench to mini – Classification of technical lignins with NIR N2 - Lignin, a by-product of the pulp and paper industry, is the second most abundant biopolymer but remains underutilized due to its complex structure and variability in biomass origin. Classification based on biomass source is crucial for quality assurance and application predictability. This study employs near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to classify technical lignins from softwoods, hardwoods, straw, and grasses. Machine learning models (ML), including Support Vector Machines (SVM), Gaussian Process Classification (GPC), Gaussian Naive Bayes (GNB), and Decision Tree Classification (DTC), were developed using spectral preprocessing and principle component analysis (PCA). The models were compared with spectra from handheld and compact spectrometers. Results highlight the potential of NIR spectroscopy and machine learning to enable rapid, reliable lignin classification, paving the way for improved industrial utilization of this abundant resource. T2 - 11th International Symposium on the Separation and Characterization of Natural and Synthetic Macromolecules CY - Amsterdam, The Netherlands DA - 21.01.2025 KW - Lignin KW - Classification KW - Near infrared spectroscopy PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-62531 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Stolar, Tomislav T1 - Waste to value: upcycling PET bottles into MOFs using mechanochemistry N2 - Single-use plastics are causing plastic pollution, and less than 10% of plastic waste gets recycled globally. Most of it ends up in landfills or gets incinerated in a highly unsustainable manner. Here, I will present a sustainable mechanochemical protocol for the chemical upcycling of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles to porous UiO-66 metal-organic framework (MOF). We used in situ and ex situ characterization to gain a deep understanding of the underlying mechanochemical process leading to high crystallinity and -porosity UiO-66. Our results show the potential of mechanochemistry for the sustainable production of high-quality value-added materials such as UiO-66 from waste PET bottles. T2 - 2024 Green Chemistry Gordon Research Conference CY - Barcelona, Spain DA - 31.07.2024 KW - Mechanochemistry KW - Plastic recycling KW - Circular economy PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-62107 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Schumacher, Julia T1 - Unlocking black fungi: from genomes to material conservation and biotechnological innovation N2 - Black fungi are a polyphyletic group of melanized ascomycetes adapted to extreme environments such as deserts, rocks, and human-made surfaces. Their slow compact growth, and thick melanized cell walls confer exceptional stress tolerance but have long hindered molecular studies and genetic engineering. Consequently, the biology and biotechnological potential of these organisms remained largely unexplored. To overcome these limitations, we selected the rock-inhabiting black fungus Knufia petricola as a model. Its genome sequence (12 contigs, ~10,000 genes) enabled the development of a versatile genetic toolbox based on CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing, achieving up to 100% homologous recombination and supporting multiplex editing of at least six genomic regions. Color-based selection systems targeting pigment genes enable rapid identification of strains with correctly integrated expression cassettes, including simultaneous insertion of optimized genes coding for blue, green, and red fluorescent proteins for co-localization and protein interaction studies. These tools enable functional analyses of traits central to extremotolerance, such as the role of melanin in stress protection, biofilm formation, and material interactions. Furthermore, K. petricola has been established as a eukaryotic expression platform: heterologous genes from bacteria, fungi, and plants can be expressed under constitutive or inducible promoters, including the Tet-on system for tunable gene regulation. Pigment-free strains provide access to metabolic precursors, enabling high-level synthesis of alternative secondary metabolites. Importantly, the optimized transformation protocols were successfully transferred to the Antarctic black fungus Cryomyces antarcticus, a cryptoendolithic extremophile and astrobiology model, demonstrating that even the most stress-tolerant fungi can be genetically engineered. Together, the genome sequence and advanced genetic engineering strategies have transformed K. petricola from a challenging extremotolerant organism into a tractable model for studying stress adaptation, material interactions and a promising host for biotechnology and synthetic biology approaches. These achievements, combined with emerging black fungal genomes, inform sustainable material protection strategies to mitigate colonization and biodeterioration of exposed surfaces, linking fundamental research with applied solutions for material conservation and industrial biotechnology. T2 - Annual Conference of the Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM) 2026 CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 22.03.2026 KW - Functional genetics KW - Material colonizer KW - Pigments PY - 2026 AN - OPUS4-65752 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Schumacher, Julia T1 - Biodiversity on Materials: Black Fungi Colonizing Solar Panels N2 - Sun-exposed surfaces are extreme environments characterized by intense UV radiation, temperature fluctuations, desiccation, and nutrient scarcity. These habitats are colonized by extremotolerant microorganisms that often form multispecies biofilms. Among them, black fungi (Ascomycota) stand out for their unique morphophysiological traits: slow growth, small compact colonies, reproduction by budding or meristematic growth, and continuous deposition of 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) melanin on thickened cell walls. This melanin is thought to provide protection against abiotic stress, for both the fungi and their microbial partners. Originally associated with natural substrates such as rocks in hot, cold, or saline deserts, black fungi have recently been detected on human-made surfaces, including solar panels, where they may reduce system efficiency. Despite their simple morphology, black fungi represent a vast and underestimated genetic diversity with representatives in Eurotiomycetes, Dothideomycetes, and Arthoniomycetes. They exhibit diverse lifestyles, including lichen symbioses, opportunistic pathogenicity, and saprobic growth. However, only a few genomes of black fungi have been sequenced to date. Initial analyses indicate haploid or diploid states, occasional genome duplications, and gene loss, reflecting adaptation to extreme conditions. For even fewer species, genetic engineering tools are available. To address this gap, we develop genetic tools for functional studies and compare genome sequences. The STRES Community Science Program, funded by the Joint Genome Institute (JGI), aims to sequence up to 600 black fungal genomes from diverse extreme environments (https://stresblackfungi.org/). Our contribution includes black fungi isolated from solar panels in Germany and the United States – among some several new species. Annotated genomes are now becoming available, enabling comparative analyses to discover novel genes for enzymes and secondary metabolites. These efforts also support strategies to mitigate undesired biofilm formation on man-made surfaces such as facades and solar panels. T2 - Annual Conference of the Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM) 2026 CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 22.03.2026 KW - Biodiversity KW - Fungi KW - Melanin PY - 2026 AN - OPUS4-65750 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Erdmann, Eileen A. T1 - In-vivo Transposon Mutagenesis in the Black Fungus Knufia petricola N2 - Microcolonial black fungi, commonly found on sun-exposed natural and man-made surfaces worldwide, belong to different classes within the Ascomycota but convergently evolved similar morpho-physiological adaptations to colonize extreme low-competitive environments. Genetic studies of these organisms have long been hampered by slow growth, lack of sexual cycles and difficulties in transformation. To overcome these limitations, CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing was implemented in the rock-inhabiting fungus Knufia petricola (Eurotiomycetes, Chaetothyriales). This enables efficient generation of deletion mutants and overexpression strains for functional analyses, and thus hypothesis-driven targeted mutagenesis. However, the unique ability of black fungi to colonize oligotrophic extreme environments remains poorly understood, and genes involved are unknown. To address this, a hypothesis-generating tool for functional assessment of new species- and/or trait-specific genes was implemented in K. petricola. Specifically, we adapted the two-component Activator/Dissociation (Ac/Ds) transposon system from maize for generating insertional mutants by in vivo mutagenesis. For controlling the transposition of a Ds transposon carrying a resistance cassette, the inducible and metabolism-independent Tet-on promoter system was combined with the Ac transposase (AcTPase) coding sequence fused to a functional nuclear localization signal. In total, six auxotrophic Ac/Ds starter strains were generated, each harboring the Ds transposon at different positions within ade2, ura3 or ppt1. Induction of TET::AcTPase with doxycycline followed by selection on ADE/URA/LYS-lacking media resulted in prototrophic revertants for most Ac/Ds strains. Sequencing of excision sites revealed characteristic footprints. Mapping of Ds re-insertion sites demonstrated transpositions both within the same chromosome and across different chromosomes, identifying 30 genes as non-essential. Current efforts include scaling up mutant generation, as the generation and sequencing of saturated mutant libraries combined with mutation mapping will enable the systematic identification of essential genes under diverse culture conditions. T2 - Annual Conference of the Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM) 2026 CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 22.03.2026 KW - Genetics KW - Material colonizer KW - Melanin PY - 2026 AN - OPUS4-65749 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Schumacher, Julia T1 - Iron Acquisition in Black Fungi: Genomic Insights & Mitigation N2 - Iron is an essential micronutrient for all organisms, driving intense competition for its acquisition. This competition is particularly evident in parasitic interactions, where hosts actively restrict iron availability to inhibit the growth of fungal invaders (nutritional immunity). Saprobic fungi, on the other hand, acquire iron by digesting dead organic material and may protect their nutrient sources from competitors through efficient iron uptake, rapid growth, and the production of toxic secondary metabolites. Rock-inhabiting black fungi colonize – alone or within microbial communities (subaerial biofilms) – oligotrophic, exposed surfaces such as rocks, stone monuments, and photovoltaic panels, where competition from fast-growing saprobes is minimal. To understand how these fungi acquire iron, we combined comparative genomics with targeted gene deletions in the model species Knufia petricola. Genome analysis revealed a reduced repertoire of iron acquisition-related genes compared to those of pathogenic relatives: a single reductive iron assimilation (RIA) complex, one non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) for siderophore biosynthesis, and absence of vacuolar iron transporters. Functional assays demonstrated that K. petricola primarily relies on RIA, mediated by FTR1–FET1, and secondarily on siderophore-mediated iron acquisition (SIA) via NPS1. Mutants lacking both systems were nearly non-viable under iron limitation, confirming that RIA and SIA are the only relevant uptake routes under laboratory conditions, that simulate the free-living lifestyle. Cross-feeding and chemotropism assays indicated secretion of an extracellular siderophore enabling growth toward the iron-containing mineral olivine. This siderophore, however, failed to mobilize iron from strong chelators such as BPS and EDTA, and its chemical nature remains unknown. Although melanin adsorbs and reduces iron, results on deletion mutants showed that melanin does not contribute to iron uptake or chelator resistance, functioning instead as a passive iron sink. Sensitivity assays revealed unusually low minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for these chelators in K. petricola and other rock-inhabiting fungi, suggesting limited iron acquisition and storage capacity. These findings highlight the vulnerability of rock-inhabiting fungi to iron depletion and suggest that strong iron chelators could serve as an effective strategy to inhibit fungal colonization of human-made surfaces. T2 - Annual Conference of the Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM) 2026 CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 22.03.2026 KW - Material colonization KW - Knufia petricola KW - Iron chelation PY - 2026 AN - OPUS4-65751 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Stolar, Tomislav T1 - Mechanochemical Conversion Of Polyethylene Terephthalate Into Valuable Metal-organic Frameworks N2 - Single-use plastics are causing plastic pollution, and less than 10% of plastic waste is recycled globally. Here, we present a sustainable mechanochemical protocol for converting post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) textile and bottles into the porous metal-organic framework (MOF) UiO-66. We used time-resolved in situ synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy to monitor the depolymerization of PET during ball milling with sodium and potassium hydroxide and water as a liquid additive. For synthesizing UiO-66, we focused on the better performing sodium hydroxide and optimized two distinct synthetic routes to produce high-quality UiO-66. Our results demonstrate the potential of mechanochemistry to enable more circular MOF synthesis using post-consumer PET waste. T2 - International Conference on Sustainable Chemistry for Net Zero CY - St. Andrews, United Kingdom DA - 10.06.2025 KW - Mechanochemistry KW - Plastic recycling KW - Circular economy PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63944 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Cockx, Bastiaan J.R. T1 - From data to model, linking Knufia petricola traits to emergent biofilm properties using individual-based experiments and modelling N2 - Black fungi, a diverse group of ascomycetes, well known for their ability to thrive in extreme environments, are found to colonize and grow on subaerial surfaces where few other microbes survive. This includes bare rock as well as marble monuments and solar panels. Black fungi can deteriorate hard substrates which is of particular concern for the preservation of cultural heritage, while their ability to colonize solar panels can cause a reduction in green energy yield. We have been developing computational modelling tools to gain predictive insight into their growth and proliferation. In this work we focus on the black fungus Knufia petricola, a fungus that possesses many of the characteristic features of black fungi generally and for which genetic engineering tools have been developed. Detailed observations and systematic characterization of the organism are fundamental to developing a predictive model. We combined the lessons from individual-based and biofilm characterization studies of K. petricola by Dehkohneh et al. (Manuscripts in preparation) with the predictive potential of Individual-based Modelling (IbM). In these systematic characterization studies K. petricola was grown and characterized on agar and on a glass substrate. K. petricola was grown under a variety of conditions; different carbon and nitrogen sources, different degrees of nutrient limitation, and C:N ratios. We"ve thus gained insight on how these conditions affect the growth characteristics and morphological development of K. petricola, including how nutrient limitation can limit branch development and shift generation times, and how the C:N ratio affects substrate penetration. We employed this knowledge to develop a new K. petricola IbM.We used the IbM framework iDynoMiCS 2.0 (Cockx et al. 2024) to formulate our model. The model captures both morphological and kinetic aspects of K. petricola. By formulating characteristics of individual cells and the interactions with their neighbors and environment mathematically we can simulate emergent properties, such as the architecture and expansion of K. petricola micro- colonies, which gives us the unique ability to link microbial traits with biofilm characteristics. The model gives us insight on how environmental parameters can be manipulated to steer the development of K. petricola biofilms, it can thus help forecast K. petricola biofilm proliferation and can be used to inform new bio-colonization mitigation strategies. T2 - Annual Conference of the Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM) 2026 CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 22.03.2026 KW - Rock-inhabiting fungi KW - Extreme environments KW - Fungal growth PY - 2026 AN - OPUS4-65755 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Meier, F. A1 - Drexel, R. A1 - Wiesner, Yosri A1 - Altmann, Korinna A1 - Bartczak, D. A1 - Alasonati, E. T1 - Nano-sized Polypropylene as a Promising Candidate Reference Material: Preparation, Characterization and Stability in Complex Matrices N2 - The lack of nanoplastic (NPs) reference materials capable of mimicking real-world scenarios is currently hampering the development of validated extraction techniques from complex matrices, the development of analytical approaches for robust identification and quantification, and the ability to use environmentally relevant test materials in (eco)toxicity testing and hazard assessment. Here, we present a strategy towards the development of a potential NP reference material based on nano-sized polyproplyene particles (nanoPP) developed within the EURAMET-funded PlasticTrace project (https://plastictrace.eu/). The strategy includes the preparation, the physicochemical characterization and the stability assessment of nanoPP in suspension both in its pristine state, but also when spiked into complex matrices like mineral water and milk. NanoPP was produced reproducibly in a top-down approach by crushing in acetone with an UltraTurrax, filtering and change of solvent to MilliQ water. The prepared nanoPP material was subjected to a comprehensive physicochemical characterization including e.g., DLS, PTA and AF4-MALS for particle size distribution assessment, PTA and SEM for particle number concentration determination, SEM and AFM for shape analysis and pyrolysis GC-MS for chemical identification. Performed studies showed that the prepared nanoPP material is irregularly shaped and highly polydisperse with a particle size of around 180 nm (e.g., Dh,z-ave from DLS) and a particle size distribution from around 15 nm up to 135 nm (radius of gyration Rg from AF4-MALS). Storage stability studies using DLS, PTA and AF4-MALS revealed nanoPP in aqueous suspension to be stable for at least 22 months with respect to particle size distribution and number concentration rendering it a promising NP candidate reference material. However, conducted spiking experiments in mineral water and milk showed a time-dependent agglomeration of nanoPP that needs further investigation. T2 - MICROPLASTICdays CY - Ljubliana, Slovenia DA - 03.02.2026 KW - Nanoplastics KW - Reference materials PY - 2026 AN - OPUS4-65769 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Meier, F. A1 - Altmann, Korinna T1 - Challenges in nanoplastic analysis: Reference materials, complex matrices, and limits of detection N2 - The growing concern over nanoplastic particles (< 1 µm) in food and the environment has intensified the need for robust analytical approaches to detect, quantify, and characterize these particles. But the lack is high of standardized and well-characterized reference materials that reflect environmentally relevant nanoplastics according to: • Size distribution • Low abundance • Chemical diversity • Surface properties • Behavior in complex matrices. This poster shows different methods like FFF and AF4-MALS and their results when measuring a nanoPP reference materials candidate. T2 - Analytica Conference 2026 CY - Munich, Germany DA - 24.03.2026 KW - Nanoplastics KW - Reference materials KW - AF4-MALS KW - FFF PY - 2026 AN - OPUS4-65770 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - RPRT A1 - Eggert, Lara A1 - Burkert, Andreas T1 - H2Mare-Projekt PtX-Wind - Untersuchung zu bauseitigen Fragestellungen der Korrosion und des Korrosionsschutzes mit Fokus auf die Außenkorrosion von Bau- und Anlagenteilen N2 - Im Teilvorhaben „Untersuchung zu bauseitigen Fragestellungen der Korrosion und des Korrosionsschutzes mit Fokus auf die Außenkorrosion von Bau- und Anlagenteilen“ standen korrosionstechnische Untersuchungen zum Einfluss maritimer Exposition für großtechnische Offshore-Power-to-X-(PtX-) Anlagen im Mittelpunkt. Die Planung und der Betrieb solcher OffshoreProzessanlagen stellen aufgrund der vorherrschenden Umweltbedingungen hohe Anforderungen an die Korrosionsbeständigkeit der eingesetzten Materialien, wobei dem wirksamen Korrosionsschutz eine zentrale Rolle für einen wartungsarmen, langlebigen und umweltverträglichen Anlagenbetrieb zukommt. Vor diesem Hintergrund wurde das Korrosionsverhalten metallischer Werkstoffe und Korrosionsschutzsysteme unter realen maritimen und Offshore-Bedingungen systematisch untersucht. Durch die Verknüpfung normativer und wissenschaftlicher Literaturrecherchen mit kontrollierten Laboruntersuchungen sowie mehrjährigen Expositionsversuchen an ausgewählten maritimen Standorten wurden grundlegende Zusammenhänge zwischen Umweltparametern, Werkstoffeigenschaften, konstruktiven Randbedingungen und Korrosionsmechanismen analysiert. Die gewonnenen Ergebnisse stellen eine repräsentative Datengrundlage zur Charakterisierung der Korrosivitätsbedingungen im maritimen Umfeld dar und bilden eine wissenschaftlich fundierte Basis für die Bewertung, Auslegung und Optimierung von Werkstoffen, Beschichtungen und Korrosionsschutzkonzepten für maritime und Offshore-Anwendungen. KW - Offshore-Power-to-X-Anlagen KW - Maritime Korrosion KW - Korrosionsschutz PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-657965 DO - https://doi.org/10.34657/32992 SP - 1 EP - 32 AN - OPUS4-65796 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Kaminski, Katja A1 - Kluge, Stephanie A1 - Frenzel, Olivia A1 - Bücker, Michael A1 - Westphalen, Tanja ED - Ziegahn, Karl-Friedrich T1 - Entwicklung, Validierung und Anwendung eines beschleunigten Bewitterungsprotokolls zur Bewertung der Freisetzung von Bisphenol A (BPA) aus Polycarbonat (PC)-Materialien in die Umwelt N2 - BPA unterliegt einer kontinuierlichen behördlichen Kontrolle und ist als besonders besorgniserregender Stoff (SVHC) gelistet. Besondere Besorgnis besteht hinsichtlich seines häufigen Nachweises in Oberflächengewässern, obwohl es leicht biologisch abbaubar ist. In mehreren Studien wurden die Quellen und Wege von BPA in die Umwelt untersucht, wobei festgestellt wurde, dass seine Hauptverwendung als Monomer in PC nur marginal zu den BPA-Freisetzungen in die Umwelt über seinen Lebenszyklus beiträgt. Um die tatsächlichen Freisetzungen von BPA aus PC unter umweltrelevanten Bedingungen besser zu verstehen, wurde eine neu entwickelte Methodik (Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, BAM) angewendet, die ein neuartiges beschleunigtes Bewitterungsprotokoll für Polycarbonat-Materialien in Kombination mit einem sensitiven Analysenverfahren umfasst, welches eine Bestimmung von BPA im Ultraspurenbereich ermöglicht. Das Bewitterungsprotokoll erreicht eine 13,6-fache Beschleunigung im Vergleich zu mitteleuropäischen Wetterbedingungen und simuliert Umweltstressoren (globale Strahlung, Regen, Temperaturschwankungen) in einer Bewitterungskammer, wobei gleichzeitig die BPA-Freisetzung mit einem validierten LC-MS/MS-Verfahren unter Verwendung einer organischen Isotopenverdünnungskalibrierung bestimmt wird. In parallelen Freilandversuchen wurden die Trübung und die Vergilbung („Yellowness-Index“) der zu untersuchenden Proben als Referenzparameter untersucht. T2 - 54. Jahrestagung der GUS 2026 CY - Blankenloch-Stutensee, Germany DA - 25.03.2026 KW - Polycarbonat KW - Bisphenol A KW - Bewitterung PY - 2026 SN - 978-3-9826129-3-5 VL - 54 SP - 139 EP - 153 AN - OPUS4-65793 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - RPRT A1 - Burkert, Andreas A1 - Eggert, Lara T1 - H2Mare-Projekt TransferWind - Übertragung von wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen zur bauseitigen maritimen und offshore-Korrosion in die Normung und Erarbeitung einer Handlungsempfehlung zu Korrosionsschutz und -prüfung N2 - Die Werkstoffauswahl und der Korrosionsschutz zur Sicherstellung der Dauerhaftigkeit stellen für den Offshore Bereich noch immer eine Herausforderung dar. Erfahrungen und Regelwerke liegen insbesondere aus dem Bereich von Offshore Windenergieanlagen vor. Diese Regelwerke befinden sich in einem stetigen Prozess der Anpassung an aktuelle Erkenntnisse und Erfahrungen, da es sich noch um relativ neue Anwendungen handelt. Für Offshore-Prozessanlagen, wie diese im H2Mare-Projekt betrachtet werden, sind die Anforderungen wesentlich komplexer, da Anlagenkomponenten den Beanspruchungen aus den Prozessen im Inneren der Anlagen ebenso genügen müssen, wie den Beanspruchungen aus der maritimen Umgebung. Hier kommen im Vergleich zu Windkraftanlagen eine größere Palette von Werkstoffen insbesondere aus dem Bereich der rost- und säurebeständigen Stähle sowie höhere Prozesstemperaturen zum Tragen, die für Windkraftanlagen keine Relevanz haben. KW - Offshore-Power-to-X-Anlagen KW - Maritime Korrosion KW - Korrosionsschutz PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-658008 DO - https://doi.org/10.34657/32991 SP - 1 EP - 25 AN - OPUS4-65800 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Piechotta, Christian T1 - Entwicklung, Validierung und Anwendung eines beschleunigten Bewitterungsprotokolls zur Bewertung der Freisetzung von Bisphenol A (BPA) aus Polycarbonat (PC)-Materialien in die Umwelt N2 - BPA unterliegt einer kontinuierlichen behördlichen Kontrolle und ist als besonders besorgniserregender Stoff (SVHC) gelistet. Besondere Besorgnis besteht hinsichtlich seines häufigen Nachweises in Oberflächengewässern, obwohl es leicht biologisch abbaubar ist. In mehreren Studien wurden die Quellen und Wege von BPA in die Umwelt untersucht, wobei festgestellt wurde, dass seine Hauptverwendung als Monomer in PC nur marginal zu den BPA-Freisetzungen in die Umwelt über seinen Lebenszyklus beiträgt. Um die tatsächlichen Freisetzungen von BPA aus PC unter umweltrelevanten Bedingungen besser zu verstehen, wurde eine neu entwickelte Methodik (Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, BAM) angewendet, die ein neuartiges beschleunigtes Bewitterungsprotokoll für Polycarbonat-Materialien in Kombination mit einem sensitiven Analysenverfahren umfasst, welches eine Bestimmung von BPA im Ultraspurenbereich ermöglicht. Das Bewitterungsprotokoll erreicht eine 13,6-fache Beschleunigung im Vergleich zu mitteleuropäischen Wetterbedingungen und simuliert Umweltstressoren (globale Strahlung, Regen, Temperaturschwankungen) in einer Bewitterungskammer, wobei gleichzeitig die BPA-Freisetzung mit einem validierten LC-MS/MS-Verfahren unter Verwendung einer organischen Isotopenverdünnungskalibrierung bestimmt wird. In parallelen Freilandversuchen wurden die Trübung und die Vergilbung („Yellowness-Index“) der zu untersuchenden Proben als Referenzparameter untersucht. T2 - 54. Jahrestagung der GUS 2026 CY - Blankenloch-Stutensee, Germany DA - 25.03.2026 KW - Bewitterung KW - Bisphenol A KW - Polycarbonat PY - 2026 AN - OPUS4-65794 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -