CSIR researchers and their industry counterparts are pooling their efforts to use biocatalysis – a green production method – to help develop new and improved production processes and products for the cosmetic, biopharmaceutical and industrial biologics markets, to name a few. 

Puris Natural Aroma Chemicals, one of the companies that was able to access the expertise and specialised facilities for technical product and process support through South Africa’s first Industrial Biocatalysis Hub (IBH) – which is hosted at the CSIR – will soon be able to implement a high-value niche fragrance technology because of this collaborative effort.

“The biocatalytic application of an ancient recipe to produce a valuable fragrance ingredient is making great strides. The proprietary intellectual property of the CSIR used in this process shows much promise. This sought-after fragrance ingredient will also create opportunities for agricultural production of plant material,” says Dr Gerhard Niemand, Executive Chairman of Puris Natural Aroma Chemicals.

Additionally, Puris recently developed a product called Caramel furanone, also known as Sotolon. This natural aroma compound, which usually smells of curry at high concentrations, and maple syrup, caramel or burnt sugar at lower concentrations, was optimised by the IBH team and is now in full-scale commercial production. According to Niemand, the high odour impact molecule finds a wide range of food flavouring applications within a growing market demand.

“The availability of a national industrial biocatalysis facility is most attractive. CSIR scientific know-how complements that of Puris and, thereby, larger and more complex projects can be tackled. In addition, CSIR pilot plant facilities with experienced operators are invaluable – something that small, medium and micro enterprises mostly cannot afford,” says Niemand.

Since inception, the hub has collaborated with three companies. This has resulted in several product lines, which include an insect repellent product line that required the removal of agricultural residue in citrus oil, as well as niche flavour and fragrance compounds and a pharmaceutical intermediate. Products previously produced by the CSIR’s biocatalysis group include converting a compound in an aloe plant into a skin brightening/lightening product and using lemons to produce a cost-effective and eco-friendly disinfectant/biocide product, which has now been recognised and registered with the European Union.

“While we have supported three companies by way of making our well-equipped facilities and expertise in biocatalysis accessible to our industry partners, we are looking forward to supporting many more industry players in improving their product manufacturing processes,” says Dr Lucia Steenkamp, IBH Programme Manager and CSIR principal researcher.

The hub, which was commissioned and is being funded by the Department of Science and Innovation, alongside the Technology Innovation Agency, has also extended its footprint to five university nodes, namely, Rhodes University, Fort Hare University, University of the Free-State, University of the Western Cape and the University of the Witwatersrand. Through the hub’s relationship with these academic institutions, the country’s future human capital pipeline is being equipped with expertise in biocatalysis, a key component that contributes to building and strengthening this local capability.  

“We have been working with the hub’s university nodes in harnessing natural enzymes and microbes to assist industry in manufacturing and upscaling high-value products, such as flavours and fragrances, food additives, biological medical products, cosmetics and dietary supplements. We also acknowledge that part of our role as South Africa’s only industrial biocatalysis hub is to provide mentoring and training initiatives for students and emerging researchers so that we can strengthen the country’s biocatalyis capability and contribute towards building an inclusive bio-economy,” says Steenkamp.

As part of building homegrown biocatalysis expertise, Steenkamp says that the hub has recruited four interns and one postdoctoral student. Recruiting interns and postdocs on an annual basis will grow the biocatalysis’ capacity at the CSIR and prepare the researchers for uptake in the manufacturing industry or for further studies in biocatalysis.  

One of the trainees, Dr Moloko Mathipa-Mdakane, a postdoctoral fellow who has worked on several projects at the biocatalysis hub says: “When I joined the IBH, I did not have any industrial experience. I have grown a lot since I joined and continue to grow every day. I have managed to use the skills I had gained during my term as an academic and continue to add onto those skills with all the projects I am involved in at the IBH. I am grateful for this opportunity to gain industry experience, to engage with the different clients that are hosted at the IBH and grow as a versatile scientist. The experience I am gaining through the IBH and the CSIR is invaluable and is shaping my future as a researcher.”

-ENDS-

Issued by CSIR Strategic Communications

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About the CSIR:

The CSIR, an entity of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, is one of the leading scientific and technology research, development and implementation organisations in Africa. Constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1945 as a science council, the CSIR undertakes directed and multidisciplinary research and technological innovation, as well as industrial and scientific development to improve the quality of life of all South Africans. For more information, visit www.csir.co.za
 

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