Vito presentation
VITO is a leading international research and service centre. It provides knowledge and technological innovations that facilitate the transition to a more sustainable society. We do this in the field of energy, chemistry, materials, health technology and land use. We unite different parties in a sustainable value chain. By cooperation, expansion and development of expertise we can make smarter use of existing sustainable solutions and develop new technologies.
Technology should be feasible and cost-effective. This calls for partnerships between research centres, commercial parties and the authorities, who together create impact in the sustainability transition. VITO is the driving force by providing practical knowledge, innovative processes and business models.
VITO makes this connection between research, government and market, between knowledge, policy and business in order to create impactful changes.
Separation and Conversion technology (SCT)
The multidisciplinary business unit Separation and Conversion Technology (SCT) has organized its strategic research program around the theme ‘Sustainable Chemistry’. In general, SCT is strongly active in bioprocess development, optimization and intensification. It has experience in design and operation of biocatalytic processes, including fermentative and enzymatic processes, and individual or coupled set-ups with or without integrated separation. A second focus area of SCT is the development of innovative separation processes. VITO-SCT covers a wide variety of membrane processes for downstream as well as in-situ separation of both aqueous and organic solvent borne process/waste streams. A third major group of separation technologies concerns extractive processes and separation/fractionation of natural materials in the frame of biorefinery concept or for valorization of biological (side) streams. Synergies with conversions are explored to facilitate separation/recovery or increase added value of the products. The overall work is supported by the GOAL team of SCT that is specialized in a wide spectrum of inorganic and organic analyses in various matrices using state-of-the-art analytical equipment.
Role of VITO:
VITO will in an enzymatic way functionalise the dendrimers and polymers synthesized by UReims and UGent. More specifically, different antioxidants will be attached to these cargos by using different enzymes. The reaction conditions (type of enzyme, enzyme/substrate ratio, substrate concentration, solvent, etc) for the enzymatic functionalization of the cargos will be studied and optimized at batch level. Obtained cargos will be tested by ULille for their antioxidant activity and their use in cosmetic formulations.
