On 6 October 2025, the second BIOCTANE Scientific Workshop took place at the Hamburg University of Technology (TU Hamburg). The full-day event brought together 52 participants from research institutions, universities, and industry.
The workshop focused on key technological aspects of the biochemical conversion of biogenic waste into renewable aviation fuels. Presentations addressed both individual process steps and the broader value chain – from biofilm-driven reactor processes to system-level pathways for sustainable fuel production.
A Diverse Scientific Program Featuring Six Expert Presentations
The agenda included six scientific talks, each highlighting recent advancements in the field:
- Steffen Voss (TU Hamburg) opened the workshop with insights into integrated biorefinery concepts for efficiently converting agricultural residues into jet fuel.
- Zainab Ul Kausar (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) presented on anaerobic biofilms in bioelectrochemical systems.
- Jan Kreft (University of Birmingham) discussed predictive modeling approaches for understanding biofilm dynamics.
- Harald Horn (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) followed with strategies for scaling up biofilm-based processes.
- Cristina Cavinato (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice) shared research on dark fermentation of organic waste for biohydrogen production.
- Wolfram Tuschewitzki (TU Hamburg) concluded the scientific program with a talk on electricity- and biomass-based pathways from solar radiation to green methanol.
Networking, Exchange, and Hands-On Research Insights
A joint lunch provided space for discussions and networking among participants. In the afternoon, attendees were invited to join guided tours of the laboratories and experimental facilities of TU Hamburg’s Institute of Technical Microbiology (TMI). These visits offered practical insights into the experimental work underlying the technologies discussed throughout the day.
A sincere thank you to all speakers and participants for their valuable contributions and inspiring discussions. The workshop demonstrated how interdisciplinary collaboration continues to drive innovation toward climate-neutral aviation fuels.
