New Ohm logo on agar plate

200 years of the Ohm - (c) Biotech-Labor

Dyes in flasks

Long Night of the Sciences 2023 - (c) I. Horst

Long Night of the Sciences 2023 (c) Herbert Schlachter

Graduation celebration 2023 (c) H. Schlachter

The Faculty of Applied Chemistry has a long history steeped in tradition. Following the foundation of the Städtischen Polytechnischen Schule (city polytechnic school) in 1823, the first chemist, Dr. Friedrich Wilhelm Engelhart, was appointed as a teacher of physics and chemistry at the school in 1829.

Today, around 500 students are taught by 17 professors in the bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes, supported by over 40 adjunct teaching staff and scientific and technical staff.

Mr Schönfelder from the Anton Paar company presents a new polarimeter to Karl-Heinz Jacob and Dirk Sachsenheimer from the physical chemistry department (Photo: Physical Chemistry Lab)

A Gift for Applied Chemistry

On 1 March, Mr Schönfelder, from the Anton Paar company, presented a high-end polarimeter MCP 200 worth approximately 35,000 euros as a donation to the Faculty of Applied Chemistry. Polarimeters measure the rotation of the polarisation plane of linearly polarised light through optically active substances. This makes it possible to quantitatively determine the concentration of such substances in solutions and to determine the speed of chemical reactions involving optically active substances. With this state-of-the-art apparatus, students have the opportunity to become familiar with and use a method that is widely used in industry; from determining the purity and concentration of active pharmaceutical ingredients to measuring the sugar content in drinks and sweets.

DuraFuelCell - Trendsetting Research at the Faculty of Applied Chemistry

We are pleased to congratulate our colleague, Prof. Maik Eichelbaum, and the members of the joint research project on receiving a DGR Research Impulse grant for the DuraFuelCell project.

Nine projects will be funded with over 5 million euros over 5 years that will be carried out by a research network that includes the Ohm, eight companies, three municipal services, and the Technical Universities of Hamburg, Munich, and Darmstadt. The aim of the project is to fundamentally investigate and understand the complex processes within fuel cells under real conditions. Eichelbaum explains the project as: “Fuel cells can convert green hydrogen into electricity and heat for applications in the transport, building, and industrial sectors without producing climate-damaging emissions.” But there are still challenges to be solved before this technology can break through to the commercial market. “First, we must understand exactly which fuel cell system components have which influence on the efficacy and lifespan of the system under real operating conditions. Then we can develop approaches based on this knowledge to construct and operate fuel cells more robustly, efficiently, and cost-effectively so they can be competitive on the market.”

We are very excited to hear the results that will be reported in the coming years!

More information about the project is available in the Ohm’s press release (in German) and on the H2Ohm’s website.

Impressions of the Faculty of Applied Chemistry

At the Faculty of Applied Chemistry, chemistry is not only studied and researched, but also celebrated and discussed and we are passionate about communicating our love of all aspects of chemistry at events like the Long Night of Sciences, the KinderUni, Science Slams, or many other events and workshops.

Here are a few pictures from our current activities - more information and more pictures are available on our web pages. Enjoy!