Torsten Müller

What do you work on at the Fraunhofer CCPE?

In the RD team “Advanced Recycling”, we work on new and innovative approaches to returning plastic-containing waste and products to the cycle. To realize this, we rely on the most modern recycling technologies and work hand in hand with our colleagues from other CCPE divisions.

Our goal is to make the entire life cycle of plastics sustainable – from the collection and sorting of waste to the recovery and reuse of valuable polymers and monomers. We use technologies such as physical and solvent-based recycling, solvolysis and pyrolysis to process materials so that they can be reused in a wide range of applications.

It is particularly important to us to always keep the technical, economic and ecological aspects in mind. We look closely at which processes are most effective and how we can best recycle plastics and composite materials.

Do you have a specific example of a project, or rather, why is it interesting for industry/society?

A good example is our MediKas project, in which we are investigating the recycling of disposable medical products. This initially sounds like a major challenge, since these products often consist of materials or plastic mixtures that are difficult to recycle. This is where we use our so-called Fraunhofer CCPE recycling cascade, a clever combination of mechanical, solvent-based and chemical processes to find the best possible recycling process for different material flows.

With this method, we combine three advanced Fraunhofer technologies and manage to recycle even complex waste such as mixed packaging, shredder residues or composite materials into high-quality plastic recyclates.

What has been your highlight at Fraunhofer CCPE so far?

My highlight at Fraunhofer CCPE so far is definitely the development of our recycling cascade and the close, trusting collaboration with our partners. It is incredibly motivating to see how our open-technology approach, which combines different processes in a solution-oriented way, has been so well received. The realization of the first demonstrators, which make the potential of our approaches tangible, is also one of those special moments for me. It's great to see how we are making real progress towards a more sustainable plastics industry together with our partners.

What does your typical workday look like?

My workday is an exciting mix of technical tinkering and strategic project work. At the same time, regular coordination with the project teams and management is an integral part of ensuring that we all stay on the right track. The combination of diverse project work and teamwork makes the workday incredibly varied and enriching.

What fascinates you about your work at Fraunhofer CCPE?

I am particularly fascinated by the diversity and depth that characterizes our work at Fraunhofer CCPE. Our thematic focus along the entire plastics value chain and the broad technical expertise that the six CCPE institutes cover together with their network enable us to act as a true “one-stop shop” for our partners. It's great to see how we can jointly launch projects and cover everything from research to implementation.