Project Details
Projekt
GRK 1166: Ionic Liquids, Organic Solvents, Supercritical Fluids and Gases as Reaction Media for Bio-catalysed Syntheses
Subject Area
Process Engineering, Technical Chemistry
Term
from 2005 to 2014
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 811503
The Research Training Group promotes the specialisation of PhD-students and young scientists in biocatalysis, a scientific area covering biology, chemistry and biochemical engineering. Due to selectivity and flexibility, biocatalysis is gaining more and more importance in the sustainable provision of building blocks for pharmaceutical compounds and fine chemicals. The combination of biocatalysts with non-conventional, i.e. not mainly aqueous, media offers a specially high potential for development.
In the course of the research programme, basic information about biocatalyst handling in non-conventional media and suitable tools will be developed. Additionally, mechanisms of enzyme deactivation by non-conventional media will be investigated, and biocatalysts will be adapted accordingly. In an integrated approach, biologists, chemists and engineers will identify, optimise and describe case studies of biocatalytic reactions, which benefit from the use of non-conventional media. At the same time, test systems will be developed that reproduce in small-scale the special conditions in non-conventional media during technical use. The resulting information and methods will contribute to the rational understanding of the reaction systems, and on the long-term promote the systematic development of suitable biocatalysts and better processes. For every project, two supervisors from two different chairs will be responsible.
The generation of specialised expertise of the PhD-students on the subject of their research projects will be supported by a specific core programme. This comprises expert interdisciplinary lectures by the applying scientists and by guest researchers. Regular seminars, workshops and symposia organised by the PhD-students themselves, and presentations of own scientific results of the PhD-students at international conferences and in publications will promote the scientific independence of the graduates. Additionally, professional training in soft-skills will contribute to the personal development and scientific success of every participant of the Research Training Group.
In the course of the research programme, basic information about biocatalyst handling in non-conventional media and suitable tools will be developed. Additionally, mechanisms of enzyme deactivation by non-conventional media will be investigated, and biocatalysts will be adapted accordingly. In an integrated approach, biologists, chemists and engineers will identify, optimise and describe case studies of biocatalytic reactions, which benefit from the use of non-conventional media. At the same time, test systems will be developed that reproduce in small-scale the special conditions in non-conventional media during technical use. The resulting information and methods will contribute to the rational understanding of the reaction systems, and on the long-term promote the systematic development of suitable biocatalysts and better processes. For every project, two supervisors from two different chairs will be responsible.
The generation of specialised expertise of the PhD-students on the subject of their research projects will be supported by a specific core programme. This comprises expert interdisciplinary lectures by the applying scientists and by guest researchers. Regular seminars, workshops and symposia organised by the PhD-students themselves, and presentations of own scientific results of the PhD-students at international conferences and in publications will promote the scientific independence of the graduates. Additionally, professional training in soft-skills will contribute to the personal development and scientific success of every participant of the Research Training Group.
DFG Programme
Research Training Groups
Applicant Institution
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
Co-Applicant Institution
Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
Spokesperson
Professor Dr.-Ing. Jochen Büchs
Participating Researchers
Professorin Dr. Marion Ansorge-Schumacher; Marco Fioroni, Ph.D.; Dr. Dörte Gocke; Professor Dr. Lasse Greiner; Professor Dr. Karl Erich Jaeger; Professor Dr. Ulrich Krauß; Professor Dr. Walter Leitner; Professor Dr.-Ing. Eric von Lieres und Wilkau; Professorin Dr. Martina Pohl; Professor Ulrich Schwaneberg, Ph.D.; Professorin Dr.-Ing. Antje Spieß; Professor Dr. Wolfgang Wiechert
