Biotechnology students once again among the best teams

In the €99 bioreactor competition, organized by the Dresden Bioprocess Engineering Network (Netzwerk Bioverfahrenstechnik Dresden e.V.) at TU Dresden, the biotechnology students delivered impressive achievements for the third year in a row. Among the eight university teams from across Germany, they once again secured one of the top three spots. Following a 2nd-place finish in 2019 and a 3rd-place finish in 2022, they once again took 3rd place this year.

This year’s challenge was particularly demanding: to develop a cost-effective bioreactor (€99) capable of achieving maximum yield with minimal power consumption. To do this, the enzyme phytase was to be produced using the yeast Blastobotrys adeninivorans. This enzyme mobilizes phosphate from the plant storage compound phytic acid, which cannot be broken down by animals or humans. Adding phytase to plant-based livestock feed reduces the need to supplement with inorganic phosphate and ultimately lowers the phosphate concentration in the resulting manure. This not only reduces the costs of producing livestock feed but also helps protect the environment.

The innovative idea of the HSZG university team, led by Coach Dipl.-Ing. Toni Baloun, was to harness the hydropower available right on their doorstep in the Zittau Mountains. A simple and robust tilting mechanism was used to mix and aerate the bioreactor without the use of electrically powered motors or pumps. Only the temperature control system—which consists of a heating element from a 3D printer—and the control electronics require electrical power.

In addition to the winning concept, the creative ideas of the other participating teams were also impressive, such as a bioreactor heated by surrounding compost or the model from the Rhineland-Palatinate University of Applied Sciences in Kaiserslautern-Landau, which took first place thanks to energy-saving bubble column aeration and gravimetric feeding via an infusion bag.

The competition also provided an excellent platform for exchanging expertise and networking. In addition to two expert presentations on the topic, the students enjoyed the summer party that followed, which further fueled their enthusiasm for science and innovation.

Overall, the 99 € Bioreactor Competition was a successful event that enabled the students to passionately put their acquired knowledge into practice.

Congratulations to the outstanding team!

Students: Vivien Adolf, Josephine Arnold [not pictured], Friderike Kittler, Lukas Liebke, Lukas Wilke, and advisor Dipl.-Ing. Toni Baloun