Research group led by Dr. Christos Chatzidoukas (Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki).The fields of expertise and research interests of the laboratory are summarized in the following:• Biosynthesis and biocatalysis for the production of new biomaterials, biopolymers and chemicals of high added value from renewable raw materials.• Systems of microbial cultures and mixed natural populations (bacteria, yeasts, microalgae) and multi-phase characterization of micro-organisms for the selection of biotechnology-appropriate micro-organisms.• Fundamental studies in chemical and biochemical reaction engineering.• Techniques and software for monitoring, controling and optimizing the operation of chemical and biochemical processes.• Mathematical simulation and prediction tools for the operation of biochemical processes and the phenomena that govern them (metabolic networks, transport phenomena, etc.).• Study of the chemical composition of natural products and identification of substances from natural products.• Evaluation of biological actions (antioxidant, anti-platelet, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory) of extracts.• Isolation and identification of biologically active compounds.• Determination of chemical structure using analytical techniques-characterization of biologically active components.