About the Institute

The Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (TMC) combines the research areas of macromolecular chemistry with a focus on technical polymer chemistry, from raw materials through polymerization to chemical recycling (Prof. Luinstra and Dr. Pauer), as well as technical chemistry (Prof. Albert), focused on catalytic reaction engineering and inorganic technical chemistry.

The main research of technical polymer chemistry includes the synthesis, catalyst development, polymerization technology, processing, and characterization of both polymer materials and monomers up to a kg-scale.

In catalytic reaction engineering the research aimes at value creation from biogenic raw materials and CO2 using oxygen or hydrogen generated by electrolysis with the help of different reactor types. We also carry out scale-ups of various processes up to mini-plants. Our plant portfolio is complemented by several membrane systems for the recovery of homogeneous catalysts. In the area of inorganic technical chemistry, the main focus is on the synthesis and characterization of tailored polyoxometalate catalysts for thermochemical and electrochemical applications.

The research activities of the TMC are closely intertwined with current societal and industrial developments. The researchers incorporate developments by the chemical industry into their work and further develop them while elucidating scientific fundamentals. Current examples include the extraction of chemical raw materials from renewable sources, the use of CO2 as a carbon source for the sustainable production of platform chemicals or polymer building blocks, as well as the development of "smart" catalysts and reactors. Novel materials with tailored properties are thus developed. This working environment perfectly prepares young scientists for the modern job market in the chemical industry.

We collaborate with the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), to conduct research and teaching in the collaborative research center (SFB) 1615 "SMART Reactors for Future Process Engineering." Since TUHH does not have a chemistry department, the courses offered by the professors of TMC are also available to TUHH students.

Detailed information about the current research areas can be found on the websites of our institute's research groups.

Teaching

At the ITMC you can listen to basic and advanced lectures in the fields of polymer chemistry, polymerization technology and technical chemistry. Basic courses in general and inorganic chemistry, as well as organic chemistry, are offered to you as a student in engineering. An overview of the lectures can be found in the “Vorlesungsverzeichnis” (course catalog) as well as on the websites of our individual working groups under “Teaching”.

There are many opportunities at the ITMC to deepen and apply your knowledge in practice in research internships and final theses. An overview of our offers for you can be found under “Internships”.

History of the Insititute

Today's Chemistry Department at Hamburg University originated from the “Chemisches Staatsinstitut” (State Chemical Institute), which itself emerged from the “Chemisches Staatslaboratorium” (State Chemical Laboratory) when the university was founded. The roots of the “Chemisches Staatslaboratorium”extend back to the chemical laboratory of the “Akademisches Gymnasium” (Academic Gymnasium).

The history can be divided into seven major steps:

1613-1837	“Akademisches Gymnasium” (Academic Gymnasium) with chemistry only as a small part of the natural sciences
1837-1883	“Akademisches Gymnasium” with chemistry as a special subject, characterized by Karl Wiebel
1878-1921	“Chemisches Staatslaboratorium” (State Chemical Laboratory), characterized by Ferdinand Wibel and Max Dennstedt
1919-1945	„Chemisches Staatsinstitut“ (State Chemical Institute) at the University of Hamburg until the end of World War II, characterized by Paul Rabe, Heinrich Remy and Heinrich Schlubach Otto Stern was Head of the independent Institute for Physical Chemistry.
1945-1969	C„Chemisches Staatsinstitut“ at the University of Hamburg, characterized among others by Kurt Heyns and Heinrich Remy
1969	Department of Chemistry of the University of Hamburg, characterized among others by Kurt Heyns, Reinhard Nast, Hansjörg Sinn and Wolf Walter.
1985	Foundation of an independent Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry with an own building in Bundesstraße.

To begin with, chemistry was not an independent subject, but only part of the natural sciences. Joachim Jungius, Professor of Physics and Logic from 1629–1657, dealt with atomism and thus contributed to the foundation of chemistry as a natural science. In his dissertation "Doxoscopiae Physicae Minores" he rejected the four elements of antiquity (fire, earth, air and water) and the three of alchemy (mercury, sulfur, salt) and defined chemical elements as uniform substances that cannot be further broken down. He also contradicted the alchemists' idea of extracting gold by converting other metals.

With the appointment of Karl Wiebel, chemistry then became an independent subject. He also set up a chemical laboratory that was given new tasks. In 1878, the laboratory of the “Akademisches Gymnasium” was transferred to the independent “Chemisches Staatslaboratorium”. The Gymnasium itself was then dissolved a little later.

In 1928, a Department for Technical Chemistry was established at the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the “Chemisches Staatsinstitut” with Ernst Jantzen as the head, who was a student of Paul Rabe. The separation method, known as countercurrent distribution (fractional distribution), was developed by him in Hamburg. It was the aim that technical chemistry should be a point of contact between basic chemical research, engineering and industrial practice.

After Ernst Jantzen retired in 1960 and the “Chemisches Staatsinstitut” moved to Martin-Luther-King Platz, the Department for Technical Chemistry became an independent Department for Applied Chemistry, which was organisationally affiliated with the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry. In 1965, Hansjörg Sinn was appointed as a full professor. The department was expanded through generous donations from some Hamburg industrialists and the DECHEMA. Hansjörg Sinn's goal of establishing the applied chemistry more broadely was achieved in 1985 when an independent Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry was founded. Technical chemistry in teaching and research is carried out using, for example, the synthesis of polymers, the performance of reactions in polyreactions, the analysis and physics of the polymers and the recycling of polymers.

Since 1979, with the work of Walter Kaminsky, the research activities have focused on catalyst development and catalytic polymerization. Thanks to Hans-Ulrich Moritz, reactor design and reaction reliability, particularly in polymerization technology, have been given a high priority at the institute for more than 20 years, and this expertise has been in high demand. Since 2008 there has been an orientation towards materials science with polymer processing and material testing. This has resulted in a focus of macromolecular chemistry in Hamburg with a wide range of applications and many industrial contacts.

How to get to the Institute

The institute is centrally located in Hamburg and easy to reach by public transport.

Postal address:

Universität Hamburg
Institut für Technische und Makromolekulare Chemie
Bundesstraße 45
20146 Hamburg

Arrival by train

The closest train station is Hamburg-Dammtor, which is one station from the main train station. From there you can walk to the institute in 15 minutes (see city map (Hamburg, Bundesstraße, 45)). Alternatively, take metro bus lines 4 or 5 (direction Eidelstedt / Wildacker or Burgwedel) from the main entrance to the bus stop Grindelhof (two stops). The buses run every few minutes. Alternatively, the institute can be easily reached on foot from the subway station "Schlump" (U2 / U3).

Arrival by plane

The city train (S-Bahn) S1 can be taken directly from the Airport Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel to the main train station. From the opposite railway track, use any one of the city trains (S-Bahn) S11, S21, S31 and ride one station to Dammtor (see above). Information on timetables in local transport can be found under HVV timetables .

Arrival by car

Of course, you can also reach the institute by car. Since the institute is located in the centre of the city, there is a chronic lack of parking spaces. Please inform us in good time of your arrival so that we can provide you with the parking key for the visitor parking space directly from the gatekeeper.

Accommodation, Tourism, Culture

Just come and have a look at Hamburg – it’s worth it! Of course, we at the institute also know a few inexpensive hotels.