Professorship for Sustainable Chemistry and Material Resources

Organisational unit: Section

Organisation profile

RESEARCH AND TEACHING

Chair for Sustainable Chemistry and Material Resources

We research and train in the field of sustainable chemistry and pharmacy.

We focus on environmental questions as well as on sustainable questions going beyond that such as social and ecological aspects in the context of the life cycle of chemical substances and products. This includes the extraction of raw material, its use as well as the fate after its use. We are also interested in the material flow associated with the extraction and use of the raw material. On top of the experimental work and modeling, we also develop concepts as for example Benign by Design intended dissipation.

Our research and teaching is carried out on an intra- and transdisciplinary scale within the Faculty of Sustainability together with national and international co-operations.

 

Topics

We are interested in environmental affairs and all questions concerning the sustainability within the context of the life cycle of chemicals, starting with the raw material itself and going on to the synthesis, the use to end up with the environmental fate of chemical substances and products after their use. Beyond the chemical substances and products themselves, we are also interested in the associated material flows, especially when it comes to the so-called strategic resources (e. g. phosphate, seldom metals).

We investigate the fate (e. g. identification of relevant sources) in the environment as well as the spread and the behavior of chemicals (e. g. spread, biological and photochemical degradation) in the aquatic environment in the sense of a sustainable water management. This is why we want to record their effects (e. g. genotoxicity, mutagenity, and bacteria toxicity).At present we are focusing on pesticides, pharmaceuticals, textile auxiliary agents and nanoparticles.

Service offers

Examination of (bio)-degradability of chemicals and pharmaceuticals  
according to OECD/DIN/ISO and others:
 
•    
Closed Bottle-Test (OECD 301 D)
•    Manometric Respirometry (OECD 301 F)
•    Zahn-Wellens-Test (OECD 302 B)
•    Waste water treatment plant simulation (OECD 303 A)
•    Water Sediment Test
•    Photochemical degradation
•    Photocatalytic degradation
•    Electro coalugation
•    and other
 
Toxicity
Acute and chronic toxicity in bacteria:
•    Luminescent bacteria test with Vibrio fischeri (30 minutes and 20h)
•    Growth-inhibition test with Pseudomonas putida (16h) and Vibrio fischeri (20h)
•    Growth-inhibition test with Enteroccus faecalis      

Genotoxicity:
•    Ames-Test with Salmonella typhimurium TA 98/TA 100
•    Umu-Test with Salmonella typhimurium TA 1535/ psK 1002
•    Mikronucleus-Test with CHO-Cells by FACS-Analysis
•    Green Screen-Assay with TK6-cells

Chemical informatics
Structure property relationships
•    Calculation of physicochemical properties of molecules
•    Calculation of quantum chemical parameters of molecules
•    Calculation of toxicity and mutagenicity
•    Calculation of the biological degradation
•    Calculation of metabolites (mammalia bacteria)
•    Targeted design of chemicals and pharmaceuticals
•    Support in purchasing decisions
•    Product optimization
•    REACH
 
Water flux based reactive mass transport modelling and assessment
•    Spatio-temporal analysis of discharge and water quality (R-Statistics, SigmaPlot, ArcGIS)
•    Assessment of water quality by combined water quality and quantity indices (WQI, WQQI, WAI)
•    Water quality modelling in lakes and reservoirs in 1D, 2D and 3D (LAC, MOHID Water, Ce-qual)
•    Catchment modelling of hydrology, erosion and sedimenttransport, phosphorus discharge, pesticides and transformation product discharge (ZIN-Sed, MOHID Land, reservoir models)
•    River channel modelling of water, sediment, phosphorus, pesticide and transformation product discharge (ZIN-Sed, MOHID Stream)
•    Scenario modelling and assessment
•    System analysis and management assessment
•    Integrated water ressources management
   
Analytics
•    Liquid chromatography coupled to ion trap mass spectrometry
•    HPLC with UV and fluorescence detection
•    Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry
•    Ion chromatography

  1. Scientific review articles › Research
  2. Published

    Modeling and predicting aquatic aerobic biodegradation: a review from a user’s perspective.

    Rücker, C. & Kümmerer, K., 04.2012, In: Green Chemistry . 14, 4, p. 875-887 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Plasmid DNA vaccines against cancer. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte induction against tumor antigens

    Pavlenko, M., Leder, C. & Pisa, P., 01.06.2005, In: Expert Review of Vaccines. 4, 3, p. 315-327 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  4. Published

    Rethinking Chemistry for a circular economy

    Kümmerer, K., Clark, J. & Zuin, V. G., 23.01.2020, In: Science. 367, 6476, p. 369 - 370 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  5. Published

    Safe-and-sustainable-by-design: State of the art approaches and lessons learned from value chain perspectives

    Apel, C., Kümmerer, K., Sudheshwar, A., Nowack, B., Som, C., Colin, C., Walter, L., Breukelaar, J., Meeus, M., Ildefonso, B., Petrovykh, D., Elyahmadi, C., Huttunen-Saarivirta, E., Dierckx, A., Devic, A. C., Valsami-Jones, E., Brennan, M., Rocca, C., Scheper, J., Strömberg, E. & Soeteman-Hernández, L. G., 01.02.2024, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 45, 16 p., 100876.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Scope of the book wastewater reuse and current challenges

    Kümmerer, K., Dionysiou, D. D. & Fatta-Kassinos, D., 2016, In: Handbook of Environmental Chemistry. 44, p. 1-5 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Status quo on identified transformation products of organic ultraviolet filters and their persistence

    Jentzsch, F., Kümmerer, K. & Olsson, O., 10.2023, In: International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 45, S1, p. 101-126 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published

    The contribution of material circularity to sustainability—Recycling and reuse of textiles

    Keßler, L., Matlin, S. A. & Kümmerer, K., 01.12.2021, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 32, 10 p., 100535.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Towards the design of active pharmaceutical ingredients mineralizing readily in the environment

    Puhlmann, N., Mols, R., Olsson, O., Slootweg, J. C. & Kümmerer, K., 21.07.2021, In: Green Chemistry . 23, 14, p. 5006-5023 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published
  11. Published
  12. Other (editorial matter etc.) › Research
  13. Published

    A Glance at the World

    Sasu, S., Metzger, J., Kranert, M. & Kümmerer, K., 11.2011, In: Waste Management. 31, 11, p. 2361-2364 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  14. Published

    Editorial overview: Green and sustainable chemistry conference 2017

    Liu, Z. & Kümmerer, K., 01.02.2018, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 9, Special Issue: 2, 2018, p. A1-A2 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  15. Published

    Editorial overview: Selected papers from the 3rd Green and Sustainable Chemistry Conference 2018

    Kuemmerer, K. & Liu, Z., 02.2019, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 15, Special Issue, p. A4-A5 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  16. Published

    Editorial overview: Selected articles from green and sustainable chemistry conference

    Kümmerer, K. & Liu, Z., 01.02.2020, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 21, p. A4-A5 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  17. Published

    Integrating Sustainability into Learning in Chemistry

    Wissinger, J. E., Visa, A., Saha, B. B., Matlin, S. A., Mahaffy, P. G., Kümmerer, K. & Cornell, S., 13.04.2021, In: Journal of Chemical Education. 98, 4, p. 1061-1063 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  18. Published

    Nachhaltige Chemie - das künftige Leitbild

    Kümmerer, K., 12.2017, In: Angewandte Chemie. 129, 52, p. 16640-16641 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  19. Published

    Sustainable Chemistry: A Future Guiding Principle

    Kümmerer, K., 22.12.2017, In: Angewandte Chemie. 56, 52, p. 16420 - 16421 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  20. Journal articles › Transfer › Peer-reviewed
  21. Published

    Pesticide peak concentration reduction in a small vegetated treatment system controlled by chemograph shape

    Greiwe, J., Olsson, O., Kümmerer, K. & Lange, J., 02.02.2021, In: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. 25, 2, p. 497-509 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  22. Published

    Vermeidung von Biozideinträgen aus Gebäudeauswaschungen in urbane Oberflächengewässer und Grundwasser

    Olsson, O., Lange, J. & Kümmerer, K., 10.2019, In: KA - Korrespondenz Abwasser, Abfall. 66, 10, p. 812-819 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  23. Published

    Wasser und nachhaltige Chemie: Wie kommen wir zu noch sauberem Wasser?

    Olsson, O. & Kümmerer, K., 2019, In: Vom Wasser. 117, 1, p. 5-8 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  24. Published

    Wissen Kompakt: Kunststoffe und ihre Entstehung

    Bolek, R., 10.2012, In: Grundschule Sachunterricht. 56, p. 4-5 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  25. Published

    Wissen Kompakt: Zur Funktion didaktischer Erklärungsmodelle

    Bolek, R. & Landwehr, B., 10.2012, In: Grundschule Sachunterricht. 56, p. 6-7 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  26. Journal articles › Transfer › Not peer-reviewed
  27. Published
  28. Published

    Für eine neue Ganzheitlichkeit: Nachhaltige Chemie

    Kümmerer, K. & Große Ophoff, M., 28.12.2022, In: Politische Ökologie. 40, 171, p. 90 - 96 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  29. Journal articles › Research › Peer-reviewed
  30. Published

    Abiotic and biotic degradation of five aromatic organosilicon compounds in aqueous media: Structure degradability relationships

    Grabitz, E., Olsson, O., Amsel, A-K., Rummel, B., Mitzel, N. W. & Kümmerer, K., 15.06.2020, In: Journal of Hazardous Materials. 392, 15 p., 122429.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  31. Published

    Acknowledging temporal diversity in sustainability transformations at the nexus of interconnected systems

    Weiser, A., Lutz, L. M., Lang, D. J. & Kümmerer, K., 20.09.2017, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 162, p. 273-285 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  32. Published
  33. Published

    A comprehensive method for determination of fatty acids in the initial oral biofilm (pellicle)

    Reich, M., Hannig, C., Al-Ahmad, A., Bolek, R. & Kuemmerer, K., 01.10.2012, In: Journal of Lipid Research. 53, 10, p. 2226-2230 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  34. Published

    A gene marker panel covering the Wnt and the Ras-Raf-MEK-MAPK signalling pathways allows to detect gene mutations in 80% of early (UICC I) colon cancer stages in humans

    Scholtka, B., Schneider, M., Melcher, R., Katzenberger, T., Friedrich, D., Berghof-Jäger, K., Scheppach, W. & Steinberg, P., 08.2009, In: Cancer Epidemiology. 33, 2, p. 123-129 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  35. Published

    A kinetic study of the photolysis of sulfamethoxazole with special emphasis on the photoisomer

    Palm, W. U., Schmidt, N., Stahn, M. & Grimme, S., 01.03.2023, In: Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences. 22, 3, p. 615-630 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  36. Published

    A modified epitope identified for generation and monitoring of PSA-specific T cells in patients on early phases of PSA-based immunotherapeutic protocols

    Lundberg, K., Roos, A-K., Pavlenko, M., Leder, C., Wehrum, D., Guevara-Patiño, J., Andersen, R. S. & Pisa, P., 04.03.2009, In: Vaccine. 27, 10, p. 1557-1565 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  37. Published

    Analysis of environmental biodegradability of cellulose-based pharmaceutical excipients in aqueous media

    Bading, M., Olsson, O. & Kümmerer, K., 01.03.2024, In: Chemosphere. 352, 8 p., 141298.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  38. Published
  39. Published

    Antibiotics and sweeteners in the aquatic environment: biodegradability, formation of phototransformation products, and in vitro toxicity

    Bergheim, M., Gminski, R., Spangenberg, B., Debiak, M., Bürkle, A., Mersch-Sundermann, V., Kümmerer, K. & Gieré, R., 01.11.2015, In: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 22, 22, p. 18017-18030 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  40. Published

    Antimicrobial activity of pharmaceutical cocktails in sewage treatment plant effluent: An experimental and predictive approach to mixture risk assessment

    Menz, J., Baginska, E., Arrhenius, Å., Haiß, A., Backhaus, T. & Kümmerer, K., 01.12.2017, In: Environmental Pollution. 231, 2, p. 1507-1517 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  41. Published

    Antineoplastic compounds in the environment: Substances of special concern

    Kümmerer, K., Haiß, A., Schuster, A., Hein, A. & Ebert, I., 01.08.2016, In: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 23, 15, p. 14791–14804 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  42. Published

    Applicability of adapted reservoir operation for water stress mitigation under dry year conditions

    Olsson, O., Ikramova, M., Bauer, M. & Froebrich, J., 01.2010, In: Water Resources Management. 24, 2, p. 277-297 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  43. Published

    Approach for detecting mutagenicity of biodegraded and ozonated pharmaceuticals, metabolites and transformation products from a drinking water perspective

    Gartiser, S., Hafner, C., Kronenberger-Schäfer, K., Happel, O., Trautwein, C. & Kümmerer, K., 09.2012, In: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 19, 8, p. 3597-3609 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  44. Published

    Aquatic photochemistry, abiotic and aerobic biodegradability of thalidomide: Identification of stable transformation products by LC-UV-MS(n.)

    Mahmoud, W. M. M., Trautwein, C., Leder, C. & Kümmerer, K., 01.10.2013, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 463-464, p. 140-150 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  45. Published

    Are Si-C bonds cleaved by microorganisms? A critical review on biodegradation of methylsiloxanes

    Rücker, C., Grabitz, E. & Kümmerer, K., 01.04.2023, In: Chemosphere. 321, 137858.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  46. Published

    Are Si–C bonds formed in the environment and/or in technical microbiological systems?

    Rücker, C., Winkelmann, M. & Kümmerer, K., 08.2023, In: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 30, 39, p. 91492-91500 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  47. Published

    A scale-up procedure to dialkyl carbonates; evaluation of their properties, biodegradability, and toxicity

    Trapasso, G., Salaris, C., Reich, M., Logunova, E., Salata, C., Kümmerer, K., Figoli, A. & Aricò, F., 01.05.2022, In: Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy. 26, 100639.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  48. Published

    Assessing the environmental fate of S-metolachlor, its commercial product Mercantor Gold® and their photoproducts using a water-sediment test and in silico methods

    Gutowski, L., Baginska, E., Olsson, O., Leder, C. & Kümmerer, K., 01.11.2015, In: Chemosphere. 138, p. 847-855 9 p., 16405.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  49. Published

    Assessment of pharmaceutical waste management at selected hospitals and homes in Ghana

    Sasu, S., Kümmerer, K. & Kranert, M., 06.2012, In: Waste Management & Research. 30, 6, p. 625-630 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  50. Published

    Assessment of the biotic and abiotic elimination processes of five micropollutants during cultivation of the green microalgae Acutodesmus obliquus

    Reymann, T., Kerner, M. & Kümmerer, K., 09.2020, In: Bioresource Technology Reports. 11, 100512.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  51. Published
  52. Published

    A sustainable chemistry solution to the presence of pharmaceuticals and chemicals in the aquatic environment-the example of re-designing β-blocker Atenolol

    Rastogi, T., Leder, C. & Kummerer, K., 2015, In: RSC Advances. 5, 1, p. 27-32 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  53. Published

    B7-H1 Selectively Controls TH17 Differentiation and Central Nervous System Autoimmunity via a Novel Non-PD-1-Mediated Pathway

    Herold, M., Posevitz, V., Chudyka, D., Hucke, S., Groß, C., Kurth, F., Leder, C., Loser, K., Kurts, C., Knolle, P., Klotz, L. & Wiendl, H., 15.10.2015, In: Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950). 195, 8, p. 3584-3595 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  54. Published

    Basin efficiency approach and its effect on streamflow quality, Zerafshan River Uzbekistan

    Olsson, O., Gassmann, M., Manig, N., Ikramova, M. & Wegerich, K., 07.01.2013, In: Journal of Hydrology. 476, 7, p. 128–135 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  55. Published

    Bioavailability of Antibiotics at Soil-Water Interfaces: A Comparison of Measured Activities and Equilibrium Partitioning Estimates

    Menz, J., Müller, J., Olsson, O. & Kümmerer, K., 05.06.2018, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 52, 11, p. 6555-6564 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review