Lodz University of Technology represented HELVA project at the Biocat4Value conference

William Mawuko Kodzo Siegu, researcher from Lodz University of Technology (TUL) and member of the HELVA project team, participated in the Biocatalysis Conference for Biological Transformation Along Renewable Value Chains (Biocat4Value), held from November 18 to 20, 2024, in Düsseldorf, Germany. At the conference, Siegu presented a poster outlining the progress of his current research project  on a preculturing strategy to improve the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) using sodium acetate as the sole carbon source.

Siegu’s presentation showcased a new developed technique employing biofilm-based inoculation rather than traditional colony-based methods, which led to significantly improved inoculum growth. The optimization of the bioprocess also resulted in an improved biomass growth and reduced reaction times by 48 hours and, in some case, 24 hours.

The conference, focused on advancing the bioeconomy in Europe, brought together representatives from industrial companies such as Michelin (France), BYK Chemie GmbH, Repsol Technology (Spain), and AstraZeneca (Sweden). It also attracted academic experts and donor organizations from the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany.

“This conference was an excellent opportunity to learn from and interact with industrial leaders working in emerging Europe’s bioeconomy,” said Siegu. He also noted that his participation in the event facilitated connections with potential collaborators, including BioMatPro at RWTH Aachen (Germany) and OMV (Italy), who expressed their interest in his research. Additionally, Biosphere (Italy) offered expertise to support scaling up and optimizing the bioprocess.

William Mawuko Kodzo Siegu is currently pursuing his PhD at the International Centre for Research on Innovative Bio-based Materials from TUL University under the supervision of Dr. Vignesh Kumaravel and Dr. Olga Marchut-Mikołajczyk, both of whom are also team members of the HELVA project.