Our research team
Integrated Transformation of Renewable Matter (TIMR)
ESCOM research team with TIMR associates the skills and know-how of UTC in process engineering and those of the Compiègne based École Supérieure de Chimie Organique et Minérale (ESCOM) in the fields of chemistry and chemical engineering.
Objectives
The objectives of TIMR are: to develop, validate and implement the knowledge and know-how intended for the processes and reactions of transformation of renewable material.
The unit’s research activities are part of scientific and technological issues, and current societal issues related to the optimization of the use of resources and the renewal of industrial processes in connection with a sustainable development approach.
Research teams and thematics
TIMR’s research activities revolve around 5 teams with complementary skills and the Chemistry and Green Processes Chair of Excellence:
- Microbial activities and bioprocesses (MAB)
Characterization, monitoring of microbial activities in complex natural and industrial environments, and control of bioprocesses via a multidisciplinary approach.
- Environmental Protection In Chemical Engineering (EPICE)
Participation in the design and development of industrial processes with the constraints of minimizing environmental impacts and controlling industrial risks.
- Interfaces and divided environments (IMiD)
Mastery of the behavior of complex dispersed systems in the processing and shaping processes, interface phenomena, behavioral properties of divided solids.
- Organic Chemistry and Alternative Technologies (OCAT)
Alternative techniques for synthesizing new molecules from biomass, clean and economical synthesis processes, valorisation of biomolecules and biobased materials.
- Agro-industrial technologies (TAI)
Mastery of biomolecule extraction and separation processes, implementation of unconventional physical transformations, emerging transfer intensification processes.
- Chair of excellence in chemistry and green processes
The objective of the chair is to amplify the integration between chemistry and process engineering through a multidisciplinary approach favoring the development of innovative processes.
Research projects and partnerships
- Involvement in many partnership research projects with academic laboratories in France and internationally: european programs Marie Curie Actions (Initial Training Networks), FUI projects, projects supported by the Hauts-de-France Region and the FEDER, by the Industries and Agro-Resources competitiveness cluster, by ADEME, by Sorbonne University…
- Strong investment in the Investments for the Future program, as part of the Institute for Energy Transition PIVERT (Picardie Innovations végétales, enseignements et recherches technologiques).
- Important componant of activities in relation to companies, in patnerships with large groups (Areva, groupe Avril, Maguin, L’Oréal, Nestlé, PCAS, PSA, Saint Gobain, Sanofi, SIAPP, Sofralab, Solvay, Tereos, Veolia, Weylchem…), research organizations and EPIC (CEA, CETIM, IFPEN, INERIS, ITERG, Terres Inovia…), but also SMEs (Aaqius, Metarom, CCL…) and start-ups (SAS PIVERT…).
- Active participation in many networks and research groups such as: ANCRE and AllEnvi alliances, ANSES, SFR Condorcet (FR CNRS 3417), European Federation of Chemical Engineering, GIS Solimetha, Société française de génie des procédés, Société chimique de France, Société française fluide-particules, programme MOCOPEE, actions COST…
Our researchers
Organic chemistry
Dr. Claire CEBALLOS
- Synthesis and evaluation of new vanillin derivatives for biocontrol use on field crop species
- Extraction, purification and zero residue valorisation of the lignocellulosic growth medium of edible fungi: use in biocontrol and biostimulation.
- Optimisation of the reductive amination of vanillin, using a Chemspeed ASW 2000 automated synthesis
Dr. Frédéric DELBECQ
- Synthesis of low molecular weight organo/hydrogelators
- Functionalization of amphiphilic polymers
- Synthesis and dispersion of carbonaceous and metallic nano-objects
- Alternative techniques for the synthesis of biosourced furan derivatives
Dr. Gérald ENDERLIN
- Transformation and valorisation of biosourced materials and molecules
- Innovative processes and new activation techniques for synthesis.
His areas of research concern the development of new catalysts, innovative processes and techniques for chemical transformations in accordance with the principles of green chemistry and sustainable development.
Dr. Estelle LEONARD
One Health is an emerging concept that aims to bring together human, animal, and environmental health. Coming from the “One Medicine” concept that plead for a combination of human and veterinary medicine in response to zoonoses, the “One Health” concept therefore constitutes a global strategy. It highlights the need for an approach that is holistic and transdisciplinary, and incorporates multisector expertise in dealing with the human health, animals, and ecosystems. In this context, fighting against human bacterial strains without impacting the environment is crucial, and the use of photochromes can help achieve this goal. Photochromic molecules are molecular switch upon illumination that can, in the example of azobenzenes, pass from trans to cis form, changing of conformation, but also polarity, dipolar moment, color, or even physicochemical properties. That is how an azobenzenic surfactant or complex can be active against bacteria in the dark, and loose its antibacterial effect upon UVAs. Coupled to antibiotics, the contrary is also possible depending on the bacterial target reached by the molecule. Our aim is thus to explore all the possibilities of such molecular switches in the “One Health” domain.
Dr. Denis LUART
Research themes : valorization of molecules from biomass, using processes compatible with the principles of green chemistry: in sub or supercritical solvents (water, alcohols), by microwave activation, in continuous flow. Organometallic catalysis in water.
Dr. Vincent TERRASSON
- Catalysis by transition metals
- Organocatalysis
- Methodologies for green synthesis
His research activities concern the development of new catalysts and the development of new, more eco-compatible synthesis routes using catalytic pro
Chemical processes
Dr. Mohamed BENALI
- Powder agglomeration processes
- Characterization of the physicochemical properties of the solid-liquid system
- Predictive models of solid-liquid interaction
- Functionalization and hydrophobization of divided solids
Dr. Anissa KHELFA
Her research work focuses on extractive processes of lignin, proteins, and polysaccharides assisted by emerging technologies (ultrasound, microwaves, etc.) as well as on second-generation biomass and its application in microwave thermochemistry (pyrolysis and gasification processes) :
- Valorization of lignocellulosic biomass for « material-energy » purposes
- Extractive processes assisted by emerging technologies and valorization of extracts
- Microwave biomass pyrolysis (comparison with conventional heating
Dr. Mohamed KOUBAA
Dr. Mohamed Koubaa is an assistant professor since 2016 in process and chemical engineering at ESCOM Chimie. His research focus is on the production of valuable compounds by fermentation using agro-industrial by-products and the use of nonconventional processing technologies for the preservation and/or the extraction of bioactive compounds from microbial and plant matrices.
Dr. Houcine MHEMDI
- Extraction and separation processes (pressing, diffusion, filtration, drying, etc.)
- Emerging technologies (CEP, DEHT, ultrasound, microwave, supercritical CO2)
- Process modeling/simulation
- Valorization of agro-resources / biomass
Examples of past traineeships
Organic chemistry :
- valorization of furfural into tetrahydrofurfuryl ether in heterogeneous catalysis using a continuous flow approach
- Synthesis of new organic materials for perovskite solar cells
- C-H bond aminations catalyzed by iron complexes
- Preparation and evaluation of new catalysts supported on wood
- Valorisation of biomass and its derivatives by physical and chemical transformations
- Synthesis of self-organized soluble derivatives of DiFurfuryl-DiketoPyrroloPyrrole (F2-DPP) from biosourced synthons
- Vanillin derivatives: synthesis and biological activities
Bioprocesses/Microbiology :
- Intelligent antibiofilm molecules
- Synthesis of new azo compounds with antibacterial purposes.
Chemical processes :
- Study of the pressability of different varieties of flax using a continuous screw press