Research Areas Bioprocess engineering

Research Interests DESIGN AND OPTIMIZATION OF BIOPROCESS WITH MULTI-SCALE FEATURES
Bioprocess has a multi-scale characteristic involving intracellular metabolic networks, cell-to-cell interactions, and spatiotemporal effects within bioreactors. These effects influence each other and eventually determine the performance of the process. Our research objective is to analyze these complicated behaviors in bioreactors with microbial cells and design and optimize novel systems based on the quantitative description of the process. We perform research, including monitoring critical metabolites in the cells, off-gas analysis, kinetic modeling, reactor design, and scale-down approach. Through these efforts, microbial fermentation, regarded as art, would be a core part of biotechnology.

BIOPROCESS DEVELOPMENT FOR C1 GAS CONVERSION FOR NET ZERO FUTURE
A carbon neutral society is a crucial agenda facing humanity today. Amid net-zero push, biological C1 gas conversion using biocatalysts could be a promising option for mitigating greenhouse gas emission and producing green chemicals. On the other hand, biological gas conversion is an interesting system in which there remain engineering issues to address. The poor mass transfer properties of gaseous substrates into culture broth limit carbon flux towards target products inside cells, thus restricting the productivity improvement. Also, the three-phase behavior of substrates (gas), culture medium (liquid), and cells (solids) makes mathematical analyses difficult. We are attempting to optimize biological gas conversion system using the abovementioned tools, ultimately contributing to a net-zero society establishment.

Selected Publications Eungsu Kang, Eunjoo Moon, Wooho Song, Lyul Ho Kim, Ji Sung Hyung, Jae-Hwan Jo, Jeong-Ho Park, Min-Sik Kim, Jeong-Geol Na, Yoo Seong Choi, “Chitosan/oleamide nanofluid as a significant medium for enhancing gas utilization efficiency in C1-gas microbial biotransformation”, Chemical Engineering Journal 433 (2022) 133846.

Seo Young Jo, Jina Son, Yu Jung Sohn, Seo Hyun Lim, Ji Yeon Lee, Jee in Yoo, Se Young Park, Jeong-Geol Na, Si Jae Park, “A shortcut to carbon-neutral bioplastic production: Recent advances in microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoates from C1 resources”, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 192 (2021) 978-998.

Tae Uk Khang, Min-Jae Kim, Jee In Yoo, Yu Jung Sohn, Sang Goo Jeon, Si Jae Park, Jeong-Geol Na, “Rapid analysis of polyhydroxyalkanoate contents and its monomer compositions by pyrolysis-gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS)”, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 174 (2021) 449-456.

Diep Thi Ngoc Nguyen, Ok Kyung Lee, Chaeil Lim, Jinwon Lee, Jeong-Geol Na, Eun Yeol Lee, “Metabolic engineering of type II methanotroph, Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, for production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid from methane via a malonyl-CoA reductase-dependent pathway”, Metabolic Engineering 59 (2020) 142-150.

Min-Sik Kim, Myounghoon Moon, Hana Nur Fitriana, Jin-Suk Lee, Jeong-Geol Na, Gwon Woo Park, “Pressurized cultivation strategies for improved microbial hydrogen production by Thermococcus onnurineus NA1”, Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering 43 (2020) 1119-1122.

Professional Experience 한국에너지기술연구원 선임/책임연구원 (2004 – 2016)
한국에너지기술연구원 바이오자원순환연구실장 (2013-2016)