Biosynthesis needs to be understood as „chemistry by nature“. The challenge is to understand selected biological principles as well as processes in chemical terms, to transfer, apply them to and combine them with the traditional concepts of chemical catalysis. A key tool or prerequisite for the application of biocatalysts is the appropriate reaction engineering. Consequently, our main research field covers fundamental and technical aspects of the application of whole cells and isolated enzymes in biocatalysis and environmental biotechnology.
A promising field for the future will be the establishment and implementation of bioprocesses in novel process non-conventional reaction conditions as well as multiphase reactant systems. In order to meet these future challenges new processes and hybrid technologies are developed in a highly interdisciplinary manner between process engineers, biotechnologists, chemists and microbiologists. They interact in an unique interdisciplinary way in our laboratories that are equipped with state-of-the-art technologies for research and development.
Service
- Kinetic & thermodynamic analysis
- Mathematical simulation of biotransformations & processes
- Optimization of biotransformations
- Process development
- Biosynthesis of g to kg product quantities
- Consulting
Equipment
- Complete standard equipment for organic synthesis (batch & continuous)
- Diverse bioreactor systems (EMR, bubble column reactor, etc.)
- Mini plant (1 L)
- All standard equipment for enzyme production
- On-line process analytic and process control systems
- Membrane filtration (MF/UF) up to pilot scale
- Process controlled high cell density fermentation
- High Pressure reactor systems with O2 monitoring sensors
Analytics
- GC / GC-MS (achiral & chiral)
- GC-MS with Triple-axis Quadropol Detector
- Headspace GC
- HPLC (achiral & chiral)
- GPC
- FT-IR (online reaction control)
- Fluorescence sensor (online reaction control)
- Ion exchange chromatography
