Karl Clauss is working in his laboratory and suddenly discovers a white powder on his sweater.

The chemist picks something off with his index finger, licks it and notices: the unknown substance tastes sweet.

At this point, Clauss has no idea how important this is: Hoechst AG will later successfully market the substance known as acesulfame-K as a sweetener.

There are many examples from business and science, such as Clauss's discovery in 1967.

The inventors of Tesafilm actually wanted to produce a skin-friendly adhesive for plasters.

And the developer of Post-its had less yellow self-adhesive notes in mind than a new super glue.

Whether Elisabeth Pohlon and her colleague Susanne Vesper from the University of Giessen will join the chain of inventors,

who happened by chance?

Quite possible.

Thorsten Winter

Correspondent for the Rhein-Main-Zeitung for central Hesse and the Wetterau.

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In any case, the animal ecologists Pohlon and Vesper can point to a number of prototypes that they had not initially worked towards.

You have also already applied for a patent.

What they do is called upcycling in modern German: they make new everyday objects from natural waste and microorganisms.

However, their developments do not only appear suitable for reducing mountains of waste in one place or another.

They could also at least help to slow down the progressive pollution of the seas and also extend the life of countless trees.

Because what they have to offer could be used as packaging material, among other things, and as a substitute for cork floor coverings.

A different kind of waste management.

Foils for USB sticks and mobile phones

Pohlon and her colleagues still produce most of it on a laboratory scale.

But for a product, she faces collaboration with a company.

The scientist reports that it is about foils for circuit boards, such as those used in mobile phones and USB sticks.

It all started six years ago.

With a biofilm.

Normally, such layers of mucus produced by bacteria or fungi are undesirable.

They must not form on prostheses, for example.

That's why researchers are usually looking for something to prevent this from happening.

In this case, however, it was different: "We were specifically looking for a biofilm that is allowed in water bodies," reports Pohlon.

The aim was to measure pollutants in the water.

Together with other scientists, she created a kind of breeding ground "that fungi find cool" from a series of ingredients such as finely ground shells of crabs, algae and other natural materials.

The team supported by Professor Volkmar Wolters soon noticed that the material remained stable under water for several days instead of dissolving or disintegrating.

Not only that, but the biofilm did not collapse back in the air either.

"We were perplexed." This also awakened her spirit of research.

"We played with ingredients to see what results we could get," explains Pohlon.

The researchers wanted to show that the process could be repeated, even on a larger scale.

When it comes to production, economics talks about scalability: the ability to produce anything in any quantity.

Pohlon reported the invention to her university, which in turn contacted the Society for Technology Transfer (TransMit), which involved three universities in central Hesse.

Their experts should examine the possible suitability for the market.

They have come to a pleasing result, as Thomas Widmann, patent manager at TransMit GmbH, says.

Substitute for paper and cardboard

All in all, Pohlon and Vesper have twelve prototypes ready.

Three of them are accounted for by the circuit board foil.

The material could also be used as plastic for housing, says the animal ecologist.

Another three developments are conceivable as a replacement for paper and cardboard.

Another prototype feels like tracing paper and could be used for the window on envelopes.

Pohlon can imagine a thicker variant as a base material for bioplastic bags.

If it were produced on a larger scale, less oil would have to be used as the basis for bags.

Crab shells are part of every recipe because of the chitin they contain.

Where to take?

Pohlon and Widmann look to Asia.

Crab and shrimp farms are good suppliers.

Until now, companies simply dumped this animal waste unused into the sea.

There are already various bio-plastic products.

But Widmann points out that the manufacturers of such products are currently using ingredients such as starch from potatoes or corn - ultimately food for humans and animals.

In addition, the production consumes a lot of energy.

That is not the case with the Giessen developments.

However, the researchers now need help to be able to take the next steps.

In order to get ahead with packaging, they work together with experts from the University of Pisa.

"And we need people who know process engineering," adds Pohlon.