Researchers from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in conjunction with industry counterparts, have pooled efforts to use biocatalysis – a green production method – to help develop new production processes and products for the cosmetic, biopharmaceutical and industrial biologics markets, besides others.

Essential oils and aroma chemicals manufacturer 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) – hosted at the CSIR – will soon be able to implement a high-value niche fragrance technology owing to the 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,” Puris Natural Aroma Chemicals executive chairperson Dr Gerhard Niemand said, speaking at the biennial two-day CSIR Conference, in Pretoria, on November 3.

Additionally, Puris recently developed a product named caramel furanone, also known as sotolon. This natural aroma compound – which usually smells like curry at high concentrations, or like maple syrup, caramel or burnt sugar at lower concentrations – was optimised by the IBH team and is now in full-scale commercial production.

Niemand said the high odour impact molecule found a 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-sized and microenterprises mostly cannot afford,” Niemand said. 

Since inception, the IBH 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; 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 lightening product and using lemons to produce a cost-effective and ecofriendly 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 CSIR principal researcher and IBH programme manager Dr Lucia Steenkamp.

The IBH, which was commissioned and funded by the Department of Science and Innovation, alongside the Technology Innovation Agency, has also extended its footprint to five university nodes at 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, South Africa’s human capital pipeline can be equipped with expertise in biocatalysis, thereby building and strengthening local biocatalysis 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 IBH is to provide mentoring and training initiatives for students and emerging researchers so that we can strengthen the country’s biocatalysis capability and contribute towards building an inclusive bioeconomy,” Steenkamp said. 

He added that, as part of building homegrown biocatalysis expertise, the IBH has recruited four interns and one postdoctoral student. He said that recruiting interns and postdoctorates would grow the biocatalysis capacity at the CSIR and prepare researchers for uptake in the manufacturing industry or for further studies in biocatalysis.

“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,” said trainee and postdoctoral fellow Dr Moloko Mathipa-Mdakane, who has worked on several projects at the IBH.