An innovative millifluidic process for the recovery of a biobased organic acid

• Title: An innovative millifluidic process for the recovery of a biobased organic acid
• Location: Unité mixte de recherche SayFood, campus Agro Paris-Saclay, Palaiseau (91120), FRANCE
• Application deadline: 22 April 2026
• Starting date: October 2026

Contexte : 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) is a molecule used in the synthesis of numerous chemicals (acids and polymers). It is a key intermediate in the production of acrylic acid and its polymer derivatives. Currently produced from petroleum, the search for a bio-based alternative is now a major challenge: according to the Department of Energy (DoE), 3-HP is one of the 10 platform molecules that urgently need to be produced from biomass. 

Research efforts, particularly at the SayFood joint research unit, are therefore being conducted to produce this molecule in a bioreactor and recover it using a separation process1. The current separation process used to recover 3-HP is a membrane contactor. The objective of this PhD study is to lay the scientific foundations for an alternative to this technology: an intensified continuous process at milli/microfluidic scale.

Objectives of the PhD : This PhD thesis is the cornerstone of an ANR (French National Research Agency) project for Young Researchers (ANR JCJC IMPRINTS). The objectives of the study are as follows: 

•  Conduct a mechanistic microfluidic study of the kinetics of 3-HP acid extraction in a multi-component environment typical of fermentation;
•  Develop a millifluidic three-phase separation process and conduct an exhaustive study;
•  Model transfer performance in micro/millifluidics using dimensional analysis, and model two-phase flow using CFD with a view to designing and optimising the process.

Contacts :

• Violaine ATHES-DUTOUR (violaine.athes-dutour@agroparistech.fr)
• Kevin LACHIN (kevin.lachin@agroparistech.fr)
• Murielle HAYERT (murielle.hayert@agroparistech.fr)

View full job description