CONTRIBUTIONS TO PROJECT

Identification of a suite of novel enzymes for the production of chemicals for use as intermediates in the pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industries.
Production of practical biocatalysts for the conversion of C5 and C6 sugars and modification of lipids obtained from biomass into added value fine chemicals.
Investigation into the use of the enzymes for conversion of pure substrates and real mixed substrates from the biorefinery processes.
Demonstration of enzyme and feedstock compatibility.
Enzyme optimisation for enhanced characteristics (e.g. catalytic turnover, process stability).
Determination of industrial scale reactor requirements for selective enzymatic transformations.

EXPERIENCE AND FACILITIES

CoEBio3 is the premier organization in the UK dedicated to providing a world-class scientific environment in which the necessary research and development can be carried out to create new biocatalyst-based processes to meet the changing needs of industry in the next 10-20 years. CoEBio3 is based within the Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre (www.mib.ac.uk) at the University of Manchester and has links to specialist academic groups at the Universities of York, Strathclyde and Heriot-Watt. In addition, CoEBio3 works closely with the National Industrial Biotechnology Facility, Wilton (www.uk-cpi.com) who has a state- of-the-art 1,000L pilot-plant specifically designed for the scale up of biocatalytic processes. The overall aim of the various research and development programmes within CoEBio3 is the exploitation of biocatalysis and biotransformations for the cost-effective conversion of simple feedstocks/substrates into high value speciality chemicals.

CONTACT

Professor Nicholas Turner
CoEBio3
Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre
University of Manchester
131 Princess Street
Manchester M1 7DN
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 161 306 5173
Fax: +44 161 275 1311
Email: Nicholas.Turner@manchester.ac.uk
Web: www.coebio3.manchester.ac.uk