Development of a millifluidic reactor for multistep continuous synthesis of bio-based styrenes derived from p-hydroxycinnamic acids
Topic description
The increasing customer demand for natural antioxidants and flavors aligns with the emergence of new enzymatic tools that offer alternative ways to access healthier flavor compounds.
Styrenes, such as 4-vinyl phenols, are particularly valuable products in the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries.
Typically, they are obtained through the chemical decarboxylation of p-coumaric acid (p-CA) or ferulic acid (FA), which are p-hydroxycinnamic acids (p-HCAs), using metal catalysts under harsh conditions.
However, this raises concerns about product safety and the generation of hazardous waste. Consequently, there is a growing research focus on the sustainable production of renewable 4-vinyl phenol from biomass.
The MilliStyrene project, funded by the ANR (Agence National de la Recherche), involves a consortium consisting of URD ABI from AgroParisTech, CRPP (Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal) located in Bordeaux, and the Chair of Biotechnology of CentraleSupélec.
This project represents the initial endeavor to substantially decrease the cost of biobased 4-vinyl phenols by developing an innovative In-Stream Product Recovery (ISPR) compartmentalized millifluidic reactor for the enzymatic conversion of p-HCAs into 4-vinyl phenols.
As part of the MilliStyrene project, this Ph.D. thesis aims to develop a millifluidic reactor using a dropletbased experimental approach.
The objective is to define potential reactor design (shape, size, flow rates, indexes length ), and to realize and test one or two candidate designs.
This requires the development of a detection method for both p-HCAs and 4-vinyl phenols through their natural fluorescence, along with a numerical approach based on multiphase flow simulations coupled with products diffusion and reaction rates.
The combination of experimental and numerical works will be utilized for testing and optimizing the miniaturized production.
Lastly, based on the computational tools and the results gained by the candidate designs, the Ph.D. candidate will collaborate with the project partners to implement a scaled-up continuous millifluidic reactor.
Starting date
11-01
Funding category
Other public funding
Funding further details
The Ph.D. thesis is funded by ANR (Agence National de la Recherche) and the chair of Biotechnology.
Head of Business Development pour 1500 startups [CDI]
Candidate chez Ignition Program pour accéder aux offres de 1500 startups sélectionnées par nos soins. Il/elle prendra en compte tes envies et aspirations pour te partager des opportunités adaptées à ton épanouissement personnel et professionnel. Il/elle te conseillera sur ton CV, pitchera ton profil...
Request for Proposals: Redesign of the budgeting Process
The CGIAR System Organization aims to redesign its budgeting development guidelines and budget report for its 2025-30 strategy. This project seeks to redesign the complex budgeting and funding allocation requirements derived from CGIAR’s complex multi-stakeholder matrix structure. The deliverable fo...
Airbus Canada - Safety Analyst - SARI Management (events originating from production impacting the safety of the fleet)
As a member of the Quality-Safety team, you will lead and drive the resolution of complex issues and continuous improvement projects impacting the safety of aircraft produced on the assembly line. You will be part of the team in charge of the product Safety Management System (SMS) and the resolution...
High performance computing for the study of nanoscale light-matter interactions
The team gathers applied mathematicians and computational scientists who are collaboratively undertaking research activities aiming at the design, analysis, development and application of innovative numerical methods for systems of partial differential equations (PDEs) modelling nanoscale light-matt...
Head Of Embedded Software Development
We are looking for an Head of Embedded Software Development. You will be part of an expert team whose mission is to provide software and firmware with best-in-class user experience and unmatched reliability for the entire range of L-Acoustics devices including amplified controllers, audio processors...
POSTDOCTORAL POSITION in TEAM 2 of INSERM UMR 1135-Cimi-Paris (Paris, France) for the RespiriTB and RespiriNTM EU IMI H2020 Program for 2.5 years starting 2023
The team has a strong experience in evaluation of antimycobacterial drugs, epidemiology and mechanisms of drug resistance and possesses technical skills in animal models, bacteriology and biochemistry. The research activity will take place within the team “Emergence and Diffusion of Multiple Drug Re...
Head of Software Development, Simulation
The Head of Software Development, Simulation will be in charge of developing the solutions related to his domain of expertise, in order to meet our current and future needs, and in particular: . Lead and manage the software development team to deliver software that meets the needs ofour users. Work...
Internship - Prediction of probiotic potential from whole-genome sequences
The BioData department of the Lesaffre Institute of Science and Technology is seeking a highly motivated Intern to work at the interface of bacterial genomics and machine learning, and contribute to our ongoing projects in probiotic genome analysis. Collaborate with subject matter experts in microbi...
Reinforcement learning-based prediction of university students’ mobility needs within a dynamic multi-modal system
In order to tackle the problem of climate change and manage their greenhouse gas emissions, higher education institutions and universities around the world have started informing and motivating their students and faculty members about using sustainable mobility modes to realize their daily home-univ...
Design of theranostic nanoparticles for medical imaging and lung diseases treatment
The combination of contrast agents with therapeutic agents would allow the quantification of the delivered dose of the active agent, the study of its distribution in the lungs and the monitoring of the effectiveness of the treatments. Indeed, the administration of drugs in the lungs faces the proble...