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Tinkering at the highest level

Laboratory: small things that make a big difference

Dominik Dörig
Specialist Corporate Communication
It's often the little things that can make a big difference. In our high-tech laboratory, Dr Albert Paparo, who holds a doctorate in natural sciences, works with just such small things: molecules.
Dr rer. nat. Albert Paparo, laboratory manager and doctor of chemistry, in his laboratory
Dr Albert Paparo, Laboratory Manager and Doctor of Chemistry
Dr rer. nat. Albert Paparo, laboratory manager and doctor of chemistry, in his laboratory
Dr Albert Paparo, Laboratory Manager and Doctor of Chemistry

Laboratory: molecules with a big impact

Our laboratory manager Albert Paparo learnt early on how to deal with molecules. Especially those that influence our climate. His master's thesis at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) was on the activation of carbon dioxide. He was actually well on the way to becoming a professor, but today he prefers to work in the enespa laboratory in Tangstedt. There, he appreciates the freedom to implement his ideas directly and the fact that there are virtually no limitations placed on his work.

Making waste recycling worthwhile

Albert Paparo's research and development team is currently working on nothing less than the perfect composition of the plastic waste and therefore the quality of the output, the pyrolysis oil. "The type of mixed plastic waste determines the quality of the oil after the pyrolysis process," explains Albert Paparo. "In order to be used economically, the quality must be consistent and as high as possible." enespa offers specialists like him the opportunity to use their knowledge for a very specific cause that can achieve great things: if the recycling of mixed plastic waste is worthwhile, less of it will end up in nature and in the sea - and therefore not as microplastics in our bodies.

A feel for chemistry

Albert Paparo has a keen instinct for compounds that are sensitive to air and water. After three years of research in his specialist field of organometallic chemistry, he succeeded in producing the first known aluminium-beryllium compound. The new compound was created from aluminium and beryllium at room temperature: the Albert molecule. This and other analytical findings are now benefiting his work at enespa. He likes the fact that, with knowledge and experience, you can recognise in advance what will happen and what needs to be done.

  • In the small circle of plastic waste recyclers that use pyrolysis to produce oil from mixed plastic, enespa is currently the only company that operates its own research department with a high-tech laboratory.

  • Test of a product oil

  • On the left you can see contaminated waste oil with oil sludge, on the right a high-quality end product.

  • Product oil in a laboratory test

  • It's often the little things that can make a big difference. In our laboratory, Dr Albert Paparo, who holds a doctorate in natural sciences, works with just such small things: molecules.

Author

Dominik Dörig

Specialist Corporate Communication
Contact Media Relations
Armed with a degree in Organisational Communication and Journalism, Dominik Dörig gained valuable experience working at an agency. He brought his experience in marketing, public relations and event management into the SME sector. After a decade working as a communications manager and management assistant, he joined the Marcom team at enespa in Appenzell in the autumn of 2023.
d.doerig@enespa.com
+41 71 788 33 88
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The road to a circular economy for plastics is a long one. However, we are not travelling this path alone, but together with you. Celebrate with us when we come one step closer to our goal.

 
 
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The road to a circular economy for plastics is a long one. However, we are not travelling this path alone, but together with you. Celebrate with us when we come one step closer to our goal.

 
 
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