MICROSCALE DOWNSTREAM PROCESSING TOOLBOX
FOR SCREENING AND PROCESS DEVELOPMENT
(MICROTOOLS)

CONSORTIUM MEETINGS

• IASI, MAy 12-14, 2014

Groups from Technical University of Iasi, University College London, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, and Svanholm.com attended to this meeting.

The meeting was focused on the MICROTOOLS project main objectives and its research priorities for the next period, correlated with the proposed Gant chart. Thus, it was discussed the possibilities to separate the compounds existing in the media resulting from enzymatic conversion (using transketolase) of methylbenzylamine into acetophenone.

For the Technical University research group it was established that the next steps in developing the project are to elaborate the potential model and mechanism for separating these compounds by pertraction and to study the real behavior of the pertraction system.

Another important aspect which has been discussed was how could be harmonized the partners’ time tables related to the deliverables and milestones, because each partner started the project at different date, according to the schedule imposed by the Research Authority from its country.

• IASI, NOVEMBER 5-8, 2014

Groups from Technical University of Iasi, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, and project coordinator (Professor Nicolas Szita) attended to this meeting.

The main problem discussed was the possibility to transpose the pertraction system to the microfluidic device created at University College London, considering all aspects that could be involved (flow, mixing, phase separation, interfacial phenomena, interfacial mass transfer, etc.).  

Moreover, it was established the priorities in disseminating the results during the next year 2015 (papers, communications, conferences, posters).

REPORTS

The following reports have been requested by and sent to the Project coordinator (University College London):

● Stage I intermediary report – December 2013
● Models for extractions of acetophenone and methylbenzylamine – May 2014
● Literature survey on the chemical and physical properties of methylbenzylamine, production and separation of methylbenzylamine – June 2014
● Experimental results on individual and selective extraction of methylbenzylamine – July 2014
● Mid-term report for the entire consortium activity – September 2014 (appreciated as “good for the next 18 months” by the European monitor)

These reports correspond to the Partner 4 (“Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi) activities included in the working plan of grant MICROTOOLS, WP 3: 3.1 and 3.2.

● Stage II intermediary report – December 2014
● Stage III intermediary report – December 2015
● Partner 4 final report – December 2015