Group for Biochemical Conversion of Organic Waste and Microbiological Production

Currently, the management of waste or organic by-products is a significant issue. Moreover, it is estimated that the production of organic waste worldwide will triple by 2100. Therefore, the economically efficient conversion of organic waste into biomass, bioenergy, and other valuable products will contribute to the production of affordable products within the framework of a circular economy and address the environmental challenges associated with waste processing.

The main goal of the research group is to characterize and analyze the biochemical processes of microbial metabolism during the utilization of certain organic wastes. Moreover, the group intends to regulate the redox status to improve the production of biomass, bioenergy (bioelectricity), and other valuable products, including bio-hydrogen, bio-ethanol, bio-butanol, and organic acids. Lignocellulose-based organic waste (kitchen and food preservation, brewing, winemaking, alcohol production) and dairy industry side streams are consudred for microbial cultivation. The wastes are pre-treated using physicochemical and biological methods.The research is conducted using biotechnologically significance microorganisms, including Escherichia coli, Cupriavidus necator, Clostridium sp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and others. 

The synthesis and activity of enzymes largely depend on various environmental factors (pH, redox potential, medium composition, etc.). Hence, the usage of organic wastes as a cultivation medium for production of enhanced bacterial biomass and end-products require careful process design. To stimulate and optimize the production of microbial fermentation end-products, the group investigates the bioenergetic parameters of microorganisms under different conditions and the activity of key enzymes. Microbial biomass and hydrogenase enzyme production/isolation from waste, the selection of highly active H2-oxidizing hydrogenases as an anode biocatalysts and the study of bioelectricity generation mechanisms in microbial hydrogen fuel cells are performed.

Collaboration

The group collaborates with the following institutions:

• National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Institute of Microbiology, Minsk, Belarus

• Université Marie et Louis Pasteur

• Technical University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany

• Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland

• Hamburg University of Technology, Hamburg, Germany

• Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany

• S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University, Astana, Kazakhstan

• Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, USA

• Institute Agro Dijon

• L. A. Orbeli Institute of Physiology, NAS RA

• "Armenian Biotechnology" institute, NAS RA

• Hr. Buniatyan Institute of Biochemistry, NAS RA

• Institute of Molecular Biology, NAS RA

• Armenian National Agrarian University, Yerevan

Team Members

1. Anna Poladyan

2. Anahit  Vasilian

3. Lusine  Baghdasaryan

4. Meri Iskandaryan

5. Ofelya Karapetyan

6. Rima Avetisyan

7. Anna Galstyan

Top 5 Publications (Scopus, Web of Science 2018-2025)

1. Meri Iskandaryan, Lusine Baghdasaryan, Ela Minasyan, Karen Trchounian, Garabed Antranikian, Anna Poladyan. A novel, cost-effective approach for the production of hydrogenase enzymes and molecular hydrogen from recycled whey-based by-products. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.10.256 (Q1, Impact factor 8.1).

2. Torgom Seferyan, Lusine Baghdasaryan, Meri Iskandaryan, Karen Trchounian, Anna Poladyan.* Development of an H2 fuel cell electrochemical system powered by Escherichia coli cells. Electrochemistry Communications, 2024, 165, 107746 (Q1).

3. Tatev Manutsyan, Syuzanna Blbulyan, Anait Vassilian, Tatiana Semashko, Gayane Kirakosyan, Lilit Gabrielyan, Karen Trchounian, Anna Poladyan.* Gold nanoparticles activate hydrogenase synthesis and improve heterotrophic growth of Ralstonia eutropha H16. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/femsle/fnad138 (Q2).

4. Anna Poladyan, Karen Trchounian, Ani Paloyan, Ela Minasyan, Hayarpi Aghekyan, Meri Iskandaryan, Lev Khoyetsyan, Sargis Aghayan, Avetis Tsaturyan, Garabed Antranikian.* The Valorization of Whey-based Side-streams for Microbial Biomass, Molecular Hydrogen, and Hydrogenase Enzyme Production. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2023, 107 (14), 4683-4696, 10.1007/s00253-023-12609-x (Q1).

5. Meri Iskandaryan, Syuzanna Blbulyan, Mayramik Sahakyan, Anait Vassilian, Karen Trchounian, Anna Poladyan.* L-Amino acids Affect the Hydrogenase Activity and Growth of Ralstonia eutropha H16. AMB Express, 2023, 13 (1), 10.1186/s13568-023-01535-w (Q2).