Presentation

This theme tackles with the modelling of equilibrium and transport properties of biological media, the characterization and the simulation of the influence of coupling between hydrodynamics, mass and heat transfer involving homogeneous biosystems, pseudo-homogeneous or polyphasic (suspensions, emulsions, dispersed bubbles) that may present a complex rheology.

As part of a multi-scale approach, these research areas have the following characteristics:

• Include the modelling of equilibrium thermodynamic and thermochemical properties of biological and food media (activities, formation properties, phase equilibrium properties, etc.) using predictive approaches for complex media;
• Involve the measurement of transport properties (rheological, interfacial, etc.) and of characteristic times and length scales of mass, momentum and heat mass transfer (mixing time, local or volume-average strain rate, Kolmogorov scales, etc.);
• Involve the development of measurement metrology for the different macroscopic or microscopic properties studied (PIV, PLIF, image analysis, functional properties, etc.);
• Require the use (or even the development) of simulation tools and databases in different languages (CFD, Matlab, Excel Macro, PROSIM Simulator, neural networks, etc.);
• Associate several engineering and fundamental sciences (fluid mechanics, applied thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, etc.) for the characterization of physical properties.

The applications are numerous and relate to different fields:

Bioreactors: description of local properties fusing experimental or modelling tools (i.e., hydrodynamic features, pH, redox potential, etc.) as the departure point for the thermokinetic analysis of the behaviour of the metabolism using the concept of cell factory;

• Biomass deconstruction processes, especially physicochemical processes using solvents under high pressure and temperature;
• Electrochemical processes: electrocoagulation for harvesting microalgae, and treatment of water, digestate or seawater;
• Foaming processes / emulsification in food processes (sometimes coupled to the valorisation of by-products) and non-food processes (macro-porous materials);
• Predictive microbiology and control / command of food processes and bioreactors.

Main Members of the Theme

F. AUDONNET (MCF, HDR, UCA, CNU 62) - contact BPIE
C-G. DUSSAP (PR-EMERITA , UCA , CNU 62)
J-P. FONTAINE (PR,UCA,CNU 62)
A. MARCATI (MCF, SIGMA, CNU 62)
A-V URSU (MCF, SIGMA, CNU62)
C. VIAL (PR, UCA, CNU 62)