Welcome to the Eppinger Group!
The ultimate goal of our research is to combine
biological and homogeneous catalysis for sustainable and selective synthesis
Catalysis is the key-technology to conduct chemical reactions in a specific manner consuming the least possible amount of resources and energy. Catalysis is fundamental for modern industrialised societies providing access to new compounds or materials, enabling efficient and responsible utilization of resources and reducing environmental pollution. Needs of the 21st Century’s societies generate tremendous challenges for catalysis research, demanding a shift to multidisciplinary approaches.
In the Biological & Organometallic Catalysis Laboratories (BOC-Labs) we combine molecular processes of living cells with the tools and principles of chemistry to tailor novel, highly selective and effective catalysts. Fundamental tasks of our research program involve the development of inorganic catalytyst motives with high activity under aqueous conditions, integration of artificial functionalities into biomolecules and optimization of biocatalyst stability under classical reaction conditions. Correspondingly, the four currently active research projects are highly interdisziplinary connecting organometallic chemistry, molecular biology and materials science. Research targets include (i) development of green chemistry protocols, (ii) rapid generation of highly selective, catalytically active organometallic enzyme hybrids (OMEHs) based on artificial co-factors or incorporation of unnatural amino acids, (iii) application of electro-active motives or microbes targeting e.g. carbon dioxide conversion or generation of efficient fuel cell cathode surfaces and (iv) synthesis of peptide-metal conjugates to povide intelligent catalyst support, nanostructured hybrid materials and enzyme microarrays for activity determination using fluorescent or electrochemical detection. The unique location at the shores of the Red Sea, expertise of collaborators from KAUST’s Marine Research Center and KAUST’s outstanding core facilities guarantee direct access to data on identification and investigation of unknown Read See extremophiles, which can be utilized in our research projects.
The BOC-Labs are part of KAUST’s Chemical and Life Sciences & Engineering (CLSE) Division and integrated into the KAUST Catalysis Center (KCC).