Rational tuning of the plasma and liquid chemistry for biocatalysis (B11*)

• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas ; Biological Process Engineering
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 327886311

Plasma-driven biocatalysis seeks to use plasma-produced reactive species, such as hydrogen peroxide, as reactants for the enzymatic conversion of substrates into valuable products. A key to achieving industrial use of this approach is to produce reactants in sufficient amounts and with high energy efficiency. The aim of this project is to develop a rational scheme for tuning the plasma-biocatalysis system by combining expertise and insight from experimental plasma and liquid diagnostics, numerical plasma and liquid chemistry simulations and biotechnology. In addition to characterising rates and mechanisms of hydrogen peroxide generation, the formation of unwanted plasma species that are toxic to enzymes will be monitored under different plasma operating conditions. On the basis of simulation and experiment, new strategies will be developed to increase the biocatalytic yield.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1316: Transient atmospheric plasmas - from plasmas to liquids to solids
• Applicant Institution: Ruhr-Universität Bochum
• Project Heads: Professorin Dr. Julia Bandow; Dr. Andrew Robert Gibson, until 3/2024; Professorin Dr. Judith Golda