What are the main challenges and opportunities of biocatalysis for green chemistry applications?

2 Challenges of biocatalysis

Despite its potential, biocatalysis also faces some challenges that limit its widespread adoption and application in the chemical industry. Some of these challenges include the low stability and activity of biocatalysts under harsh or non-natural conditions, the high cost and complexity of enzyme production and purification, the lack of robust and scalable bioreactor systems, the need for cofactor regeneration and recycling, and the competition with other bioprocesses, such as fermentation and cell culture. Moreover, biocatalysis often requires extensive optimization and engineering of the biocatalysts, the substrates, the reaction media, and the process parameters to achieve the desired performance and yield.

3 Opportunities of biocatalysis

To overcome these challenges and exploit the opportunities of biocatalysis for green chemistry applications, several strategies and technologies have been developed and applied in recent years. Some of these include the use of immobilized or encapsulated biocatalysts to enhance their stability and recyclability, the use of compatible solvents or ionic liquids to improve their solubility and activity, the use of nanomaterials or hybrid systems to combine the advantages of biocatalysis and nanocatalysis, the use of metabolic engineering or synthetic biology to create new or improved biocatalysts and biosynthetic pathways, and the use of computational tools and artificial intelligence to design and optimize biocatalytic processes and products.

4 Examples of biocatalysis

Biocatalysis has been successfully applied in various green chemistry applications, ranging from biofuels and bioplastics to pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. For example, biocatalysis can produce biodiesel from vegetable oils or waste fats using lipases, bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass using cellulases and fermenting microorganisms, or biobutanol from sugars using clostridia. Biocatalysis can also produce bioplastics, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) or polylactic acid (PLA), from renewable sources using bacteria or fungi. Biocatalysis can also synthesize drugs and intermediates, such as antibiotics, steroids, or antivirals, using enzymes or whole cells. Biocatalysis can also create fine chemicals, such as flavors, fragrances, or dyes, using oxidoreductases, hydrolases, or transferases.

5 Future of biocatalysis

Biocatalysis is expected to play a more important role in the future of green chemistry, as the demand for sustainable and eco-friendly products and processes increases. Biocatalysis can also contribute to the circular economy, by converting waste streams into valuable products or by enabling the biodegradation of recalcitrant compounds. Biocatalysis can also foster innovation and discovery, by creating new molecules and materials with novel functions and properties. Biocatalysis can also support social and economic development, by creating new jobs and markets and by improving human health and well-being.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?