Investigation of Droplet Dynamics in Millifluidic Channels for Enzymatic Synthesis of 4-Vinylphenols

The Biotechnology Chair – CentraleSupélec: hosted by the European Centre for Biotechnology and Bioeconomy (CEBB), is structured around three thematic axes (Characterization & conversion of lignocellulosics, Biotransformation and Separation techniques) and a transversal base of Modeling, simulation & visualization oriented towards the modeling of living organisms and the transition to industrial scale. The chair was renewed in 2020 with the ambition of extensive use of modeling coupled with micro-experimentation, laboratory pilots, and a variety of imaging equipment allowing the acquisition of 2D, 3D, and 4D high-resolution images to transform plants into various products in a sustainable way and to achieve the development of a virtual plant of biorefinery (digital twin concept).

4-vinylphenol (4-VP) is a natural non-toxic styrene-like molecules that has shown considerable interest in food preservations against several types of oxidative damage, in the contribution to smokey aroma for cured meat products, and in the fragrance and perfume industry. However, its production via enzymatic decarboxylation of p-coumaric acid (pCA) by phenolic acid decarboxylase (PAD) faces economic challenges from low natural availability and high extraction costs. The MilliStyrene project funded by the National Research Agency (ANR) aims to develop a droplet-based millifluidic reactor for continuous synthesis 4-vinylphenols.

As part of the ongoing research project, this internship aims to investigate the behavior of droplets containing pCA and PAD within millifluidic channels of varying dimensions, with a particular focus on inertial effects and inter-droplet interactions.

We are looking for a motivated student able to work in a multidisciplinary team for an end-of-study internship in fluid mechanics. Skills in computational fluid mechanics (CFD) and droplet-based microfluidics are appreciated.