A STORY OF RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT


Companies that want to remain competitive in the market and continue to grow need to take up and overcome the challenges. They need to look further, look ahead, anticipate expectations and respond to change, quickly, effectively and innovatively. Columbia Bio-Tech believes in a more sustainable future as a new way of doing business. It focuses on the research, development and implementation of new eco-compatible technologies by exploiting biological processes for industrial use.

WHO WE ARE


Columbia Bio-Tech focuses on the research and development of new industrial biological processes, which can bring significant benefits compared to conventional industrial methods.
With the tight collaboration with Universities and Research Institutes, Columbia has selected new species of microorganisms that have demonstrated a strong potential in different industrial processes where a nitrile hydratase process is needed. This represents an important technological innovation, above all for the chemical and pharmaceutical sector, where the nitrile group hydration process can lead to problems in terms of efficiency or production yield. The biocatalytic method can replace traditional production processes with significant benefits, such as reduced energy consumption and environmental impact and greater efficiency and safety in production processes. Columbia is the first reality in Europe producing a biocatalyst with these features.

BIOCATALYST APPLICATIONS

CHIMICA_icona

CHEMICAL PROCESSES

Columbia’s Green biocatalyst can be used in the production of bioacrylamide, a fundamental monomer for the production of polymeric materials for different uses. Compared to conventional methods involving the use of organo-metal catalysts, Columbia’s natural biocatalyst requires the use of less energy, leads to a reduction in production waste and is able to reach a higher percentage of bioacrylamide.

FARMACEUTICA_icona

PHARMACEUTICAL PROCESSES

Columbia’s biocatalyst is used in pharmaceutical applications for the conversion of nitrile groups into amides, through a Nitrile Hydratase process. The Biocatalyst has been shown to be able to convert a variety of nitriles into amides, with good chemo, regio and stereo selectivity. Normally, in the pharmaceutical sector, this process takes place by exploiting very invasive catalytic processes that use high temperatures or acid / basic treatments. These reactions cause a degeneration of the affected substrate, inevitably leading to a lower production yield and to the creation of impurities, which must then be removed with equally aggressive refining processes. Columbia’s biocatalyst allows this process to be carried out without the use of aggressive methods, thus maximizing production efficiency and limiting waste.

BIOCATALYST APPLICATIONS

CHIMICA_icona

CHEMICAL PROCESSES

Columbia’s Green biocatalyst can be used in the production of bioacrylamide, a fundamental monomer for the production of polymeric materials for different uses. Compared to conventional methods involving the use of organo-metal catalysts, Columbia’s natural biocatalyst requires the use of less energy, leads to a reduction in production waste and is able to reach a higher percentage of bioacrylamide.

FARMACEUTICA_icona

PHARMACEUTICAL PROCESSES

Columbia’s biocatalyst is used in pharmaceutical applications for the conversion of nitrile groups into amides, through a Nitrile Hydratase process. The Biocatalyst has been shown to be able to convert a variety of nitriles into amides, with good chemo, regio and stereo selectivity. Normally, in the pharmaceutical sector, this process takes place by exploiting very invasive catalytic processes that use high temperatures or acid / basic treatments. These reactions cause a degeneration of the affected substrate, inevitably leading to a lower production yield and to the creation of impurities, which must then be removed with equally aggressive refining processes. Columbia’s biocatalyst allows this process to be carried out without the use of aggressive methods, thus maximizing production efficiency and limiting waste.

PRODUCTION METHODOLOGY:

FROM A FLASK TO BIOREACTORS


Columbia’s Bio-Tech's production methodology consists in a "scale up" process. This is based on the progressive cultivation, in a sterile environment, of the micro-organism concerned, which is then transferred from the laboratory to the industrial plant after its maturation. Our Research & Development laboratories are dedicated to the creation of new biotechnologies that are aimed at a concrete use and that can make benefits in a production process.

COLUMBIA BIO-TECH PROVIDES ADVANCED TOOLS & EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING HIGHLY AUTOMATED PILOT PLANTS, THAT ALLOW HIGH REPRODUCIBILITY AND PROCESS OPTIMIZATION.

PRODUCTION METHODOLOGY:

FROM A FLASK TO BIOREACTORS


Columbia’s Bio-Tech's production methodology consists in a "scale up" process. This is based on the progressive cultivation, in a sterile environment, of the micro-organism concerned, which is then transferred from the laboratory to the industrial plant after its maturation. Our Research & Development laboratories are dedicated to the creation of new biotechnologies that are aimed at a concrete use and that can make benefits in a production process.

COLUMBIA BIO-TECH PROVIDES ADVANCED TOOLS & EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING HIGHLY AUTOMATED PILOT PLANTS, THAT ALLOW HIGH REPRODUCIBILITY AND PROCESS OPTIMIZATION.

KEY MILESTONES

1RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE BIOCHEMICAL LABORATORY (2015)

Columbia Bio-Tech began its innovative project in 2015. The research was conducted by Stefano Toniolo who studied various microorganism strains. Once the most powerful strain was selected, Columbia performed the identification analysis in collaboration with the local university and other research institutes. The selected variety immediately showed excellent performance in the hydration of acrylonitrile, compared to known technologies. Subsequently, the research activity showed positive results also in nitrile substrates of pharmaceutical interest, leading Columbia to further research this application.

2FIRST PHASE – 30 LITER PILOT UNIT (2016)

During this phase, Columbia dedicated itself to the development of the bacterial strain from the Petri dish to the first small pilot plant, equipped with a fermenter with a capacity of 30 Lt. The obtained biocatalyst allowed Columbia to test the conversion of acrylonitrile into bioacrylamide through a controlled synthesis in the laboratory. The results highlighted the enzymatic performance, with a resulting concentration of bio acrylamide greater than 53%.

3 IMPLEMENTATION OF TWO PILOT PLANTS (DECEMBER 2016)

Bio fermentation pilot plant: the realization of the bio fermentation pilot plant is an important milestone that allowed Columbia to further develop its project towards a successful industrialization. Synthetic pilot plant: developed to test the performance of the biocatalyst in carrying out the conversion process of acrylonitrile to bio acrylamide. This highlighted the potential of the Columbia biocatalyst and its superiority over known conventional methods.

4ACQUISITION OF COLUMBIA’S BIO-TECH HEADQUARTERS AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW INDUSTRIAL PLANT FOR BIOCATALYST PRODUCTION (DECEMBER 2016)

In December 2016, Columbia purchased a new industrial site located in Vicenza (Italy) to host the entire Columbia Bio-Tech department, the biological laboratory and the industrial plant. Upon completion scheduled for Q2 2020, this building will host the headquarters of Columbia Holding and will house offices, biotechnology, chemical and pharmaceutical laboratories, a wing dedicated to the development of pilot plants and Columbia’s Biocatalyst industrial plant. The industrial plant consists of fermenters up to 40 m³ and sterile reactors from 300 Lt. to 6000 Lt.

5AWARDED PATENTS (FEBRUARY 2017)

In April 2016, Columbia deposited the strain in a collection recognized by the Budapest Treaty and submitted a patent application that recognized the unique properties of the strain and the method for bioacrylamide production. At the beginning of 2019, Columbia obtained another patent for the use of the proprietary strain in the pharmaceutical application, characterized by the conversion of nitrile groups into amides, through a nitrile hydratase process.