Team leader : François Delattre
Team presentation :
Research activity
The supramolecular chemistry team’s research activities are in the field of sustainable chemistry, at the interface of two disciplines: organic synthesis and supramolecular chemistry. They contribute to the development of more environmentally friendly chemical processes by developing unconventional synthesis methods (ultrasound, microwave),as well as methods for encapsulating bioactive compounds, remediation and detection of organic and inorganic pollutants, in the context of biomass recovery.
Supramolecular chemistry:
Since the applications associated with cage molecules largely depend on the stability of the complexes formed with the substrates, understanding the mechanisms involved in recognition is essential for the design of new compounds and is therefore a major focus of our academic research. In this context, we are developing innovative characterisation methods (optical and NMR spectroscopies, headspace, isothermal titration microcalorimetry). These studies are carried out in aqueous solutions, but also in mixtures with low melting points, such as deep eutectic solvents (DES). We are formulating new solvents with supramolecular properties, either by dissolving cyclodextrins in DES or by obtaining DES directly from cyclodextrins.
The supramolecular edifices formed in this way have two main applications:
- Remediation and detection of organic and inorganic pollutants
One of the main limitations of the remediation processes currently available is the low solubility of hydrophobic organic compounds in water. Our research involves developing innovative methods adapted to hydrophobic organic compounds (VOCs, POPs, etc.) and based on the complexation and solubilisation properties of cyclodextrins or biobased solvents.
- Encapsulation of compounds of interest (aromas, essential oils, active ingredients)
Encapsulation is a technique used to enclose liquids or solids in an envelope. Cyclodextrins can be used to protect active ingredients against physical and chemical degradation, or to enable controlled or prolonged release of active ingredients. Our work involves characterising the complexes formed in solution (UV-visible, headspace, ITC, NMR) or in the solid phase (DSC, IR) and studying the effect of encapsulation on the physicochemical and/or biological properties of the guest.
Enhancing biomass
In addition to the use of bio-based compounds in our supramolecular formulations, we are developing a research theme dedicated to the development, from products derived from flax (fibre, mucilage), of a base of bio-based compounds (resins, adhesives, binders) for the formulation of new materials. It is part of a partnership with the regional flax industry. With a view to possible industrial applications, semi-pilot sonochemical reactors are being developed to produce high-quality fibres and to functionalise biomass.
Team members
| CAZIER Francine | MCF-HDR |
MCF | |
Pr | |
| DOUARD Loreleï | MCF |
Pr | |
| MCF | |
Pr | |
IE |
Scientific collaborations
Nationals :
- Unité de Dynamique et Structure des Matériaux Moléculaire (UDSMM), University of Littoral Cote d’Opale (ULCO), Dunkerque
- Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie de l’Atmsophère (LPCA), University of Littoral Cote d’Opale (ULCO), Dunkerque
- Unité de Catalyse et Chimie du solide (UCCS Artois), UMR CNRS 8181, University of Artois, Lens.
- Unité des Matériaux et Transformations (UMET), UMR 8207, University of Lille, Villeneuve d’Ascq.
- Glycochimie, Antimicrobiens et des Agroressources Laboratory, University of Picardie Jules Vernes, Amiens.
- Institut Galien Paris-Sud (UMR CNRS 8612), University of Paris-Saclay.
- Institut Lavoisier de Versailles, University of Versailles-Saint Quentin, Versailles.
- Laboratoire de Chimie, ENS Lyon.
- Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Complexe, UMR 7140, Institut Le Bel, University of Strasbourg.
- Laboratoire Chrono-environnement, UMR 6249, University of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Besançon.
- Laboratoire Fractionnement des AgroRessources et Environnement, UMR 614, INRAE, URCA, Reims.
- Laboratoire Rhéologie et Procédés, UMR 5520, Université Grenoble Alpes.
Internationals :
- Section of Chemistry, Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, Danemark
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali ed Ingegneria Chimica « G. Natta, Politecnico di Milano, Italie
- Bioactive Molecules Research Group, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences-2, Lebanese University, Liban
- Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS-L), Lebanon
- Istituto Struttura della Materia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italie
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan
- QUILL Research Centre, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast, UK
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Laboratoire de Photochimie et d’Analyse, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Sénégal.
Current thesis
Name | Period | Title |
| Mamadou Barry | 2022-2025 | Synthesis and characterisation of new MXene derivatives for energy storage and conversion |
| Sarah Karnib | 2022-2025 | Study of radionuclide chelation in aquatic environments using functionalized Calix[4]pyrrole supramolecular matrices |
| Abbas Ahmad Kassem | 2023-2026 | New process based on bio-based solvents and compact absorbers for biogas purification”, Hauts-de-France Region, TIGA, Starklab |
| Shi-Minh Loo | 2024-2027 | Evaluation of biocompatible porous liquids based on metallo-organic cyclodextrin networks and eutectic solvents for the controlled release of bioactive compounds |
| Soumia Taibi | 2024-2027 | Study of the influence of innovative extraction processes (supercritical CO2 and ultrasonic) compared with conventional ones on the extraction and purification of bioactive products present in the pulp and gum of carob (Ceratonia Siliqua L.) in the Oriental region of Morocco. |
| Yohann Devillers | 2025-2028 | Converting food waste into valuable ingredients for cosmetics and food |
| Isabella Neves Mourao | 2026-2029 | Development of new bio-based solvents for the absorption of VOCs using TERRAO technology |
Research agreement
- 2023-2027 : ANR CDeePL « Biocompatible Porous Liquids based on Cyclodextrin-MOFs and eutectic solvents », sponsor.
- 2023-2027 : ANR NanoBAP « Multifunctional Nanostructured Bio-based Active Food Packaging with antimicrobial properties », partner.
- 2023-2025 : New process based on organic solvents and compact absorbers for purifying biogas (BIO2GAZ), CPER Ecrin.
- 2023-2025: Evaluation of flax growing by Aerodyne (ECLA), CPER Ecrin.
- 2023-2024 : PHC Orchid 49619UF, Determination of Total Vapor Pressure of Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) and Conventional Green Solvents.
- 2020-2026 : H2020-MSCA-RISE-2019 n°873005 : Waste Oils RecycLe and Development (WORLD).
- 2020-2024 : Purification of biogas by absorption as part of the project » Dunkerque, l’Energie Créative « , supported by the CUD and winner of the Territoires d’Innovation (TI) action.
- 2020-2024 : ADEME GRAINE contract « DEPHYTOP » Demonstrator for the phytomanagement of soil contaminated by TMEs based on the circular economy: Optimisation of the essential oils sector.
Recent publications
- GUI C., CUI Q., AHMAD KASSEM A., LIU J., XIANG D., and FOURMENTIN S., Betaine-based natural deep eutectic solvents for biogas upgrading : Thermodynamic and molecular insights. Chemical Engineering Journal, 545:179769, 2026. (doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2026.179769).(hal-05699480).
- CRINI G., LACALAMITA D., LIU C., FOURMENTIN M., KFOURY M., MONGIOVI C., FOURMENTIN S., and MORIN-CRINI N., Cyclodextrin-based polymer materials and their applications – A review covering a 20-year period. Progress in Polymer Science, 179:102149, 2026. (doi: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2026.102149). (hal-05664324).
- PEYRACHE T., CHABBERT B., AGUIE-BEGHIN V., DELATTRE F., KUREK B., and GAINVORS-CLAISSE A., Processing of technical flax fibers: A study on the combination of enzymatic and ultrasonic degumming. Industrial Crops and Products, 248:123592, 2026. (doi: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2026.123592). (hal-05644390).
- KUMAR BEJ P., SHARIATI S., LOSTIER A., SOLAIMAN S., Chen H., TOMAS A., HOUZEL N., DANJOU P.E., COEUR C., ROMANIAS M., and FINI E., VOC emissions from asphalt: Laboratory oxidation, ultrafine particle formation, and urban air quality implications. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 509:141713, 2026. (doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141713). (hal-05645712).
- KARNIB S., BAYDOUN R., ZAIDAN W., ALHADDAD N., EL SAMAD O., NSOULI B., CAZIER-DENNIN F., and DANJOU P.E., Synthesis and Uranyl(VI) Extraction Performance of a Calix[4]pyrrole–Tetrahydroxamic Acid Receptor, Beilstein J. Org. Chem., 2026, 22, 486–494. (doi.org/10.3762/bjoc.22.36).
- KARNIB S., BAYDOUN R., EL SAMAD O., ZAIDAN W., SIDAOUI R., DANJOU P.E., CAZIER-DENNIN F., and NSOULI B., Extraction of 238 U from Aqueous Solutions Using functionalized phenoxycalix[4]pyrrole: Complexation Efficiency and optimum conditions. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2026. (doi.org/10.1007/s10967-026-10813-3).
- KHONTE A., KITAL K., BAKHOUM J.P., DIONE L., OYELAKIN O., THIARE D.D., CISSE L., Coly A., DELATTRE F., and TINE A., Validated Micelle-enhanced Spectrofluorimetric Determination of Serotonin in Human Urine. Chemical Science International Journal, 35(2):127–144, 2026. (doi: 10.9734/CSJI/2026/v35i21022). (hal-05550831).
- VILLARIM P., AHMAD KASSEM A., MANNU A., MELE A., ZEMMOURI J., and FOURMENTIN S., Unlocking the potential of recycled waste cooking oil for a sustainable volatile organic compound absorption process. Chemical Engineering Journal Advances, 25:101055, 2026. (doi: 10.1016/j.ceja.2026.101055). (hal-05480357).
- M CORREA C.,PHILIPPI F., BROTTIN T., BERTHAULT P., ALBERTI S., FOURMENTIN S., and COSTA GES M., Functionalized Anti-Cryptophane-A as a Platform for Type II Porous Ionic Liquids. Advanced Materials Interfaces, Volume13, Issue5, e01000, 2026. (doi: 10.1002/admi.202501000). (hal-05518406).
- GUI C., AHMAD KASSEM A., CUI Y., LI S., LEI Z., FOURMENTIN S., and XIANG D., Fatty acid-based deep eutectic solvents for efficient absorption of VOCs : Hydrophobicity and molecular mechanism study. AIChE Journal, page e70287, 2026. (doi: 10.1002/aic.70287). (hal-05507540).
- GERGES P., GERGES R., NGUEWA P., ELKHOURY N., FOURMENTIN S., GONZALEZ-GAITANO G., and GREIGE-GERGES H., Cyclodextrin-in-Liposome for therapy: Advances and challenges. Carbohydrate Polymers, 372:124573, 2026. (doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2025.124573). (hal-05328172).
- DIOUF N., FAYE C., THIARE D.D., GIAMARCHI P., DELATTRE F., and COLY A., Induced fluorescence derivatization (IFD) determination of monosodium glutamate (MSG) in broths. Food Chemistry, 498, Part 1:147034, 2026. (doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.147034). (hal-05688167).
- AHMAD KASSEM A., GUI C., LEI Z., ZEMMOURI J., and FOURMENTIN S., Evaluation of nine candidate absorbents for VOC removal in biogas upgrading : Experimental and theoretical study. Separation and Purification Technology, 375:133865, 2025. (10.1016/j.seppur.2025.133865). (hal-05102834).
- MANGIACAPRE E., TRIOLO A., KFOURY M., RUELLAN S., Lo CELSO F., J M IRVING D., FOURMENTIN S., and RUSSINA O., Sustainable aroma absorption : exploring the potentiality of a β-cyclodextrin and lactic acid supramolecular eutectic solvent. Carbohydrate Polymers, 366:123819, 2025. (10.1016/j.carbpol.2025.123819). (hal-05102833).
- GERGES P., KFOURY M., LANDY D., FOURMENTIN S., and GREIGE-GERGES H., Cyclodextrin-based materials for pulmonary delivery : Insights and challenges. Carbohydrate Polymers, 363:123712, 2025. (10.1016/j.carbpol.2025.123712).(hal-05062613).
- GUI C., XIANG D., FENG M., GUO C., and FOURMENTIN S., Effective VOCs abatement using supramolecular deep eutectic solvents. Separation and Purification Technology, 360(Part 2):131121, 2025. (10.1016/j.seppur.2024.131121). (hal-05041559).
- KALKAJA S., LAPPALAINEN K., DELATTRE F., and LEVEQUE J.M., Current status of chemical- or enzyme-assisted ultrasonic pre-treatment processes for lignocellulosic biomass to assess industrialization progress: A review. Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering, 48:101124, 2025. (10.1016/j.coche.2025.101124). (hal-05034998).
- KASPROWIAK A., KULINSKI P., DEPECKER C., CAZIER-DENNIN F., and DANJOU P.E., From Accident to Improvement: A Case Study of Nitric Acid Splashing into Eyes During a Teaching Lab. Journal of Chemical Health and Safety, 32(3):236–240, 2025. (doi: 10.1021/acs.chas.5c00013). (hal-05312157).
- GUI C., LIU Q., LEI Z., GUO Y., KFOURY M., XIANG D., and FOURMENTIN S., Supramolecular Deep Eutectic Solvents and Their Aqueous Solutions : Green Carriers for Essential Oils. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 13(18):6611–6622, 2025. (10.1021/acssuschemeng.5c00881). (hal-05062616).
- M CORREA C., AVILA J., EL ACHKAR T., ANDRE P., LOO S.M., BAUDRON S., LEGRAND F.X., FOURMENTIN S., and COSTA GOMES M., Porous ionic liquids based on biocompatible CD-MOFs. Chemical Communications, 61(31):5818–5821, 2025. (10.1039/D5CC00489F). (hal-05000112).
- GUI C., SONG M., LIU Q., XIANG D., LU P., FOURMENTIN S., HUA C., and LEI Z., Rational screening of deep eutectic solvents for the removal of halogenated volatile organic compounds. AIChE Journal, page 13p. / e18858, 2025. (10.1002/aic.18858). (hal-05041562).
- KHUDAIDA S.H., KFOURY M., LIU J., TIWIKRAMA A.H., and FOURMENTIN S., A step forward in supramolecular green solvents characterization: Total vapor pressure determination. Journal of Molecular Liquids, page 127377, 2025. (10.1016/j.molliq.2025.127377). (hal-04993103).
- HAPIOT F., DANJOU P.E., DELATTRE F., JOSSE S., and BONNET V., Engaging Students in Spectroscopic Analysis of Organic Compounds: A Collaborative Tournament Approach for Third-Year Chemistry Students in Northern France. Journal of Chemical Education, 102(2):722–728, 2025. (10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c01440). (hal-04939723).
- KFOURY M., LICHTFOUSE E., and FOURMENTIN S., The revival of cyclodextrins as active pharmaceutical ingredients. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 23:1–6, 2025. (10.1007/s10311-024-01782-8). (hal-04723770).
- KFOURY M., ALAMICHEL C., and FOURMENTIN S., Combined supramolecular solvent preparation and solid extraction. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 2025. (10.1007/s10311- 025-01819-6). (hal-04919535).
- CHARGUI H., KFOURY M., SOLTANY A., DJEBBI T., HAOUAL HAMDI S., FOURMENTIN S., MEDIOUNI J., and JEMAA B., b-Cyclodextrin/eucalyptol inclusion complex for improved postharvest date moth control. Pest Management Science, 2025. (10.1002/ps.8977). (hal-05113105).