Bechtold, Matthias, Dr.

Research activities

The development, design and operation of integrated processes constitute my principal research focus. In particular I am interested in the application of a class of thermodynamically limited enzyme reactions catalyzed by aldolases and/or isomerases and cascades thereof that principally allow for generic process routes to rare monosaccharides and other interesting compound classes. However in order to apply such syntheses in an industrially setting the yield limitation needs to be addressed. The integration of biotransformation, continuous chromatography relying on cheap adsorber material and a concentration unit allows for high yield and simultaneously competitive productivity. Such process schemes are also often referred to as process intensification. Their development requires a highly interdisciplinary set of expertise comprising of enzyme development tools for enzyme optimisation, enzyme kinetics and stability characterisation, SMB and nanofiltration characterisation and design, high throughput experimental strategies and eventually numerical optimisation in order to identify efficient operating points. At the BPL I am in the privileged position to direct a team of talented PhD students and students that reflect the interdisciplinary character of the project. Therefore we are able to address comprehensively the scientific issues that accompany the design of complex integrated processes.
Further I am interested in applying in-situ product removal in order to overcome inhibition or product degradation problems in fermentative processes.

For a more detailed overview on the "Integrated Processes" group's research acitvity please visits our research page

Lectures

Separations in Biotechnology and Bioprocess Economy in the fall semester (shared with Prof. Panke)

Short CV

Publications

13. Füreder, M.; Panke, S.; Bechtold, M., SMB-enantioseparation of amino acids employing memory effect-constrained chromatography columns. J. Chromatogr. A submitted

12. Bechtold, M.; Panke, S., Reaction engineering of biotransformations. In Comprehensive Chirality, Yamamoto, H.; Carreira, E., Eds. Elsevier: in press.

11. Wagner, N.; Füreder, M.; Bosshart, A.; Panke, S.; Bechtold, M., Practical aspects of integrated operation of biotransformation and SMB separation for fine chemical synthesis. Org. Process Res. Dev. , in press, DOI: 10.1021/op200160e

10. Bechtold, M.; Brenna, E.; Femmer, C.; Gatti, F.; Panke, S.; Parmeggiani, F.; Sacchetti, A., Biotechnological Development of a Practical Synthesis of Ethyl (S)-2-Ethoxy-3-(p-methoxyphenyl)propanoate (EEHP): Over 100-Fold Productivity Increase from Yeast Whole Cells to Recombinant Isolated Enzymes. Org. Process Res. Dev. in press

9. Bechtold, M.; Feureder, M.; Wagner, N.; Panke, S., "Potential of process integration with adsorbers for the production of rare monosaccharides - a modeling investigation", Chem. Ing. Tech. , 2010, 82, (1-2), 65-75, doi:10.1002/cite.200900149

8. Walser, M.; Pellaux, R.; Meyer, A.; Bechtold, M.; Vanderschuren, H.; Reinhardt, R.; Magyar, J.; Panke, S.; Held, M., "Novel method for high-throughput colony pcr screening in nanoliter-reactors", Nucleic Acids Research , 2009, 37, (8), e57/1-e57/8, doi:10.1093/nar/gkp160

7. Bechtold, M.; Panke, S., "In-situ product recovery integrated with biotransformations", Chimia , 2009, 63, (6), 345, doi:10.2533/chimia.2009.345

6. Makart, S.; Bechtold, M.; Panke, S., "Separation of amino acids by simulated moving bed under solvent constrained conditions for the integration of continuous chromatography and biotransformation", Chem. Eng. Sci. , 2008, 63, (21), 5347-5355, doi:10.1016/j.ces.2008.07.019

5. Makart, S.; Bechtold, M.; Panke, S., "Towards preparative asymmetric synthesis of beta-hydroxy-alpha-amino acids: L-allo-threonine formation from glycine and acetaldehyde using recombinant glya", Journal of Biotechnology , 2007, 130, (4), 402-410, doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2007.05.008

4. Bechtold, M.; Makart, S.; Reiss, R.; Alder, P.; Panke, S., "Model-based characterization of an amino acid racemase from pseudomonas putida dsm 3263 for application in medium-constrained continuous processes", Biotechnology and Bioengineering , 2007, 98, (4), 812-824, doi:.1002/bit.21481

3. Bechtold, M.; Felinger, A.; Held, M.; Panke, S., "Adsorption behavior of a teicoplanin aglycone bonded stationary phase under harsh overload conditions", Journal of Chromatography A , 2007, 1154, (1-2), 277-286, doi:10.1016/j.chroma.2007.03.103

2. Bechtold, M.; Makart, S.; Heinemann, M.; Panke, S., "Integrated operation of continuous chromatography and biotransformations for the generic high yield production of enantiopure compounds", Journal of Biotechnology , 2006, 124, 146-162, doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2006.01.019

1. Bechtold, M.; Heinemann, M.; Panke, S., "Suitability of teicoplanin-aglycone bonded stationary phase for simulated moving bed enantioseparation of racemic amino acids employing composition-constrained eluents", Journal of Chromatography A , 2006, 1113, (1-2), 167-176, doi:10.1016/j.chroma.2006.02.007