Project Details
Projekt Print View

GRK 1166:  Ionic Liquids, Organic Solvents, Supercritical Fluids and Gases as Reaction Media for Bio-catalysed Syntheses

Subject Area Process Engineering, Technical Chemistry
Term from 2005 to 2014
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 811503
 
Final Report Year 2015

Final Report Abstract

Biocatalysis is gaining more and more importance in the sustainable provision of building blocks for pharmaceutical compounds and fine chemicals due to its well known advantages of excellent chemoselectivity, enantioselectivity, and mild (aqueous) reaction conditions. However, the use of aqueous systems limits the implementation of biocatalysis within the chemical industry. Water is rarely a good solvent specifically for hydrophobic substrates, limiting productivity and space time yield of the possible processes. Moreover, water may interfere with other reaction steps and/or downstream processing, thus hampering the direct substitution of chemical process steps with biocatalytic steps. Therefore, the Research Training Group biocatalysis using non-conventional media promoted the interdisciplinary education and research of young researchers in this highly topical research field spanning across biology, chemistry and biochemical engineering. The research programme addressed in particular the mechanisms of enzyme deactivation by nonconventional media, and their adaptation to these non-conventional conditions. Initially, this was mainly accomplished by evolution, later by rational approaches. Suitable test systems were developed that reproduced in small scale the special conditions in non-conventional media during technical use and allowed for a deeper understanding of biocatalyst medium interactions. In an integrated approach, case studies of biocatalytic reactions, which benefit from the use of nonconventional media were identified, optimised and described. The resulting information contributed to the rational understanding of the specific interactions between biocatalysts, media, and reactors which was used to develop design criteria for both biocatalysts and reaction systems. An interdisciplinary qualification programme promoted not only the research reults, but also the personal development and skills of the young researchers. The programme contained typical elements of a mandatory interdisciplinary lecture series, lectures selected complementary to the young researchers own qualification, seminars, biennial workshops, and soft-skill training. Specifically successful elements were on the one hand extension courses, 1-2 days topical lectures by (inter)- national guest researchers, where both content and organisation lay in the hands of the young researchers. On the other hand, tandem supervision by supervisors from different fields promoted the immersion into the respective complementary discipline. Besides the presentations at international conferences and publications, the RTG BioNoCo young researchers organised two summer schools and two lecture and poster sessions at Biotrans 2011 and 2013 to further promote BioNoCos visibility.

Publications

 
 

Additional Information

Textvergrößerung und Kontrastanpassung