Department for Anthropogenic Material Cycles (ANTS)
Presentation of the Institute
The Institute for Anthropogenic Material Cycles (ANTS) searches and analyzes solutions to make anthropogenic material flows circular. ANTS combines the modeling and evaluation of processing and recycling processes with a view to entire product systems and life cycles in the sense of a circular economy and complements this expertise with technical implementation and demonstration.
"Let's create the world of tomorrow - with circularity for sustainable living!"
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Kathrin Greiff
ANTS research is divided into three main research focuses. With the research focus "Processing and Sorting", optimization potentials of processing and recycling processes are investigated in detail and further developed in both individual process steps and in their entirety. A particular focus is on the possibilities offered by sensor-based sorting and process control.
In the research focus "Modeling and Evaluation", material cycles at the process and product level are considered and evaluated in a holistic context with a view to the entire value chain of product systems. Starting with process simulation to life cycle-wide sustainability analysis and assessment. Potentials for optimized recycling are analyzed and mapped in models and scenarios. As a unique selling point, an in-house database is being developed based on existing data sets and new data to be generated.
In the research focus "Circular raw material management", necessary changes for the development of the existing circular economy towards a circular raw material economy are investigated. With the involvement of all stakeholders, holistically and integrally conceived recovery or circular systems are to be developed and tested. The aim is to overcome the current separation of product development and use from end-of-life processes and to consider end-of-life from the outset.
For the relevant projects of the institute please click on this link