小瓢虫传媒

General scientific objectives:

Better knowledge and understanding of the interactions
between biocatalyst activities (micro-organisms, enzymes) and extracellular
physico-chemical conditions (diffusion limitations, adsorption, enzyme denaturation,
pH, redox,...) in order to better control these activities and processes at the
bioreactor or process scale.

Main field of research:

Bioconversion processes in
complex environmental matrices (soil, biowastes, biomass). Our research focus more
specifically on mastering the bioconversion of complex biomass substrates towards
specific metabolites (like CH4, H2, organic acids, ethanol,...), by managing
the activities of natural microbial communities through the control of
physico-chemical conditions. Some aspects of our research deal with the fate and activity of
extracellular enzymes in such complex matrices.

Fields of
scientific experience:

- Environmental and industrial biotechnology

• Bioconversion processes for
  biomass and biowastes: anaerobic digestion, fermentations
• Bioremediation processes: water,
  soil, organic wastes
• Cell culture, bacterial &
  fungal fermentation, bioreactor technology.
• Chemical and
  biochemical analyses in complex, natural matrices (soil, wastes, water,
  biomass)
• Production
  processes for organic acids, enzymes & viruses, (primary & secondary
  metabolites).
• Handling
  procedures for pathogens (to reduce the likelihood of biological hazard).

Colloid & physical chemistry - application to biological systems

• Spectroscopies (ions, electrons,
  photons).
• Adsorption, adhesion,
  flocculation and stabilisation of colloidal particles, analysis of surfaces
  (biological, organic, mineral...).

• Chemical modification of surfaces;
  synthesis of polymers in emulsions.