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Microscopy & Physicochemistry Platform

Head: Anouck HABRANT

This technical platform relies on skills in physico-chemistry, materials, microscopy and biochemistry to study the structure and deconstruction of lignocellulose.

Physico-chemistry: design of nanostructured assemblies made of lignocellulosic polymers by surface functionalization, Langmuir-Blodgett, spin-coating, casting (static/dynamic). Films are characterized by spectroscopy (UV, IR), ellipsometry, surface properties analysis (tensiometry, inverse gas chromatography, and contact angle), microscopy, water content analysis.

Materials: formulation and characterization of bio-sourced materials, from the plant to the composite: extrusion (mono- and twin-screw), injection molding equipment, thermic and thermo-mechanical analysis (DMA, DSC, ATG, micro / universal testing machine, optical of fiber diameter analyzer).

Microscopy: preparation of thin and semi-thin samples of plant cell walls for optical microscopy. Immunocytochemistry and micro-spectrophotometry UV for the analysis of the polymers, F-techniques such as FRAP and FLIM in confocal microscope for measuring diffusion, interaction (FRET) and accessibility of fluorescent probes.

Biochemistry: preparation and characterization of plant cell wall sample by gas, liquid, size exclusion chromatography, UV and IR spectroscopy.

Microbiology & Agronomics Platform

Head: Gonzague ALAVOINE

This technical platform relies on skills in microbiology, enzymology and biogeochemistry in the lab to study microbial and enzymatic processes occurring in complex systems.

Microbiology: culture of bacterial strains with a GMO approval (E. coli, Thermobacillus xylanilyticus), native and recombinant expression of proteins and their characterization, molecular biology techniques (DNA/RNA extraction, cloning, PCR).

Enzymology: enzyme and sugar/polysaccharide purification (chromatography), biochemical characterization of enzymes, application of enzymes on complex substrates (wheat bran and straw), enzymatic assays (hemicellulases, cellulases, oxidases,…).

Biogeochemistry: use of stable isotopes (¹³C, ¹⁵N) and isotopic analysis, spectral analysis (UV/Vis/IR), soil and litter chemical characterization, mineralization measurement of C and N in controlled conditions, vegetal biomass quantification in situ, approval for containment activities.