Missions

Biomass is an alternative to petroleum resources for the sustainable supply of fuels and chemicals. Within biomass, lignin represents about 20% of the total mass and is the second most abundant organic biopolymer in the world's biosphere. Approximately 60 million tons are produced annually as a by-product of the paper industry, but only 2% is used commercially, the rest being burned to provide steam. Conversion of lignin, however, is complicated by its stable and rigid structure, as well as its low water solubility, whereas for most applications, efficient, inexpensive and environmentally friendly use of lignin requires water solubility. Various strategies, such as physical, biological and chemical processes, have been implemented to circumvent its water insolubility.
The use of efficient multi-copper lignolytic oxidases (MCOs) modifying lignin in a 100% aqueous environment, using molecular oxygen as the final acceptor. This system is expected to enable the development of lignin-based carbon fibers using a fully water-based wet spinning process.
In order to understand and predict the chemical modifications of industrial lignins, the synthesis and physicochemical study of lignin models with well-defined structures (oligomer/polymer) is at the heart of this project. These models will be subjected to the action of targeted enzymatic systems and may serve as a reference for their selection

Activités

Synthesis and characterization of lignin models.
Enzymatic modification of models.
Analysis and evaluation of modified products.
Presentation of results at scientific meetings.
Writing of reports and articles.

Compétences

organic synthesis of lignin models (oligomers and polymers)
physico-chemical studies of molecular systems of polymers (multinuclear and multidimensional NMR; chromatography, HPLC, SEC; thermal analysis, TGA, DSC; ...)

Contexte de travail

The Laboratory of Organic Polymer Chemistry (LCPO) is a joint research unit attached to the CNRS, the University of Bordeaux and the Bordeaux Polytechnic Institute (http://www.lcpo.fr). The LCPO is composed of 4 research teams and includes about 150 people, including about 50 permanent staff.

With more than 30 years of experience in polymer chemistry, the LCPO's research aims at :
- develop innovative methodologies for the precision synthesis of polymers, using biomimetic and/or green chemistry approaches
- develop functional polymeric materials by macromolecular engineering and self-assembly, particularly in the fields of renewable materials, health and energy
- to establish permanent links with the socio-economic world.

The recruited candidate will be under the supervision of Frédéric Peruch and Stéphane Grelier within the LCPO teams 1 and 2. He/she will work in the framework of a Major Research Project of the University of Bordeaux. He/she will hold a PhD degree with preferably an expertise in Polymer Science.

Team 1, entitled "Catalyses and Polymerization Engineering", is led by Frédéric Peruch. The team develops alternative strategies for the synthesis of "tailor-made" polymers with as main orientations :
- the design of activation or catalysis systems for highly selective polymerization reactions
- the development of recyclable and bio-inspired catalytic nanoreactors operating in aqueous media
- engineering of polymers, nanoparticles or nanostructures for targeted functions and applications.

Team 2, entitled "Biopolymers and Bio-based Polymers", is led by Henri Cramail http://www.lcpo.fr/team-2-biopolymers-bio-sourced-polymers/.
The team develops the use of bio-resources for the synthesis of polymers with as main orientations :
- the use of (modified) vegetable oils as monomers
- obtaining polymerizable synthons from lignocellulosic biomass