Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AROMAs-FLOW (Biocatalytic flow reactors using extremophilic enzymes for a greener generation of aroma-compounds)
Berichtszeitraum: 2018-04-01 bis 2020-03-31
During my first secondment at the University of Milan (Prof. Molinari, DeFENS) acetic acid bacteria were employed as green and clean oxidants for the preparation of cinnammic acid from cinnammaldehyde. Gluconobacter oxidans and Acetobacter aceti were selected as the best candidates and immobilized by entrapment (DALGEE). The whole-cell biocatalysts were finally tested in batch and subsequently employed under flow conditions.
Thanks to the longstanding experience of Molinari’s group in whole-cell biocatalyst mediated reactions, I was also trained in the application of moulds such as Aspergillus oryzae. Its mycelium-bound lipase(s) were employed for the preparation of a new set of aroma-compounds through direct acid-alcohol condensation.
The flow system set-up for the different reactions was designed together with Prof. Tamborini during my last secondment (University of Milan, DISFARM). The single flow-mode biotransformations were optimized in terms of temperature, pressure and catalyst reusability. In-line extractions and product purifications were added downstream the process to obtain advanced and reproducible flow strategies. During my last period at the University of Nottingham, the flow reactions studied so far as single steps were connected to develop a biocatalytic platform for the preparation of natural aromas starting from cinnamaldehyde.
Continuous biocatalyst-mediated reactions as well as in-line wok-up and purification steps were finally connected to obtain fully automated processes.
The combination of my previous experiences with the advanced training I gained throughout the project was an essential component for the achievement of my goal to become an independent researcher. Thanks to the results achieved with the Marie Curie fellowship, I am now able to apply for the Italian National Academic Qualification as Associate Professor (July 2020). The creative thinking and new ideas arisen during the 2-year fellowship gave me the background necessary to apply for an ERC starting grant during the next call.
During the 2-year fellowship, 10 papers linked to the AROMAs-FLOW project were published; 3 of them are editorials while 2 are invited papers for the dissemination of the advantages of flow biocatalysis to a generic audience. 4 additional manuscripts are still in preparation about the results obtained during the last period.
Data arisen from AROMAs-FLOW project were presented through oral and poster presentations at 4 international conferences (one of them as invited speaker) and 2 workshops. One of my poster presentations won the “Best Poster Award” and “Reaction & Engineering Poster Prize” during a meeting specialized on continuous flow reactions.
I was invited to give a lecture about enzyme immobilization and flow process intensification for students of PSF Master (Progettazione e Sviluppo dei Farmaci), session of Biocatalysis in Drug Discovery and Development at the University of Pavia.
PhD and undergraduate students have been trained during their experimental thesis on the applications, operational requirements, and synthetic advantages of flow biocatalysis.
The website of Prof. Paradisi as well as her social media were updated with the results of the project.
I was personally invited to attend a demonstration organized by the Syrris company to present the ASIA flow system, a different machine for continuous reactions from the Vapourtec systems used for the whole AROMAs-FLOW project.