Pause
Read
CEA vacancy search engine

Optimising the enzymatic degradation of polylactic acid (PLA) to produce biohydrogen (BioH2) through pho


Thesis topic details

General information

Organisation

The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is a key player in research, development and innovation in four main areas :
• defence and security,
• nuclear energy (fission and fusion),
• technological research for industry,
• fundamental research in the physical sciences and life sciences.

Drawing on its widely acknowledged expertise, and thanks to its 16000 technicians, engineers, researchers and staff, the CEA actively participates in collaborative projects with a large number of academic and industrial partners.

The CEA is established in ten centers spread throughout France
  

Reference

SL-DRF-26-0582  

Direction

DRF

Thesis topic details

Category

Technological challenges

Thesis topics

Optimising the enzymatic degradation of polylactic acid (PLA) to produce biohydrogen (BioH2) through photofermentation.

Contract

Thèse

Job description

This thesis project presents a novel method of producing biohydrogen (BioH2) through the enzymatic breakdown of polylactic acid (PLA), a bioplastic which is challenging to recycle. The aim is to optimise the hydrolysis of PLA into lactic acid, which can be metabolised directly by purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB) to produce BioH2 in anoxic conditions. The work will entail selecting high-performance esterases in collaboration with Génoscope CEA, expressing them in soluble form in model hosts such as E. coli, yeasts and PNSB, and optimising reaction conditions such as pH, temperature and concentration to maximise lactic acid production. The second phase will focus on enhancing photofermentation in a photobioreactor (PBR) with advanced control systems (LED, AI and CFD). Funded by the CEA and PUI Grenoble Alpes, this project is part of a circular economy approach, aiming to develop a scalable process for converting PLA waste into renewable energy in line with the challenges of the energy transition.

University / doctoral school

Chimie et Sciences du Vivant (EDCSV)
Université Grenoble Alpes

Thesis topic location

Site

Grenoble

Requester

Position start date

01/10/2026

Person to be contacted by the applicant

PERARD Julien julien.perard@cea.fr
CNRS
LCBM / BEE
LCBM/ IRIG/CEA/Grenoble
0438784451

Tutor / Responsible thesis director

CAVAZZA Christine christine.cavazza@cea.fr
CEA
DRF/IRIG//CBM
17, avenue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble cedex 9
(+33) (4) 38 78 91 10

En savoir plus


https://www.cbm-lab.fr/en/BEE