Many products in the chemical industry are made on the basis of fossil raw materials such as crude oil and natural gas, but their use is harmful to the climate and also irreversibly consumes finite resources. The spin-off Simplyfined from TU Dortmund University has now developed a catalytic process for the first time that can be used to achieve selective partial hydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids from vegetable oils to monounsaturated. This means that vegetable oils from e.g. rapeseed, soy or sunflower can be used as sustainable basic chemicals for a variety of downstream applications in the chemical industry, e.g. plastics, lubricants, cosmetics or pharmaceuticals.
Taking part in the HighTech.NRW programme was a real boon for Simplyfined. Over the course of the twelve weeks, we not only benefited from the vast range of volunteer mentors with impressive expertise, but also gained access to a strong industry network. The interaction with the other participating teams was particularly inspiring – an environment that truly fosters innovation.
Max Krause
