Role of Biocatalysis in Sustainable Chemistry

Dear Colleagues,

The production of chemicals has been widely based on chemical synthesis using mainly fossil resources such as solvents, organic compounds, inorganic catalysts and inert gases, among others. Many of these chemical reactions are produced in extreme conditions and generate unwanted by-products as waste. Sustainable chemistry, also known as green chemistry, is a promising alternative to traditional chemical synthesis that avoids negative environmental impacts. This approach is based on biocatalysis, by which enzymes (in vitro biocatalysis) or cells (whole-cell biocatalysis) are used for a more sustainable transformation of chemicals into the desired products. Biocatalysis takes advantage of the high catalytic activity of the enzymes and their chemo-, regio-, and stereo-specificity for substrates and catalytic mechanisms. It also fits the principles of green chemistry since enzymes work in mild conditions (temperature, pressure) and require, if any, a low amount of organic solvents, thereby generating little waste.

The application of biotechnological procedures, not only to the production of both bulk and fine chemicals but also of biofuels using biocatalysis processes, has also led to biorefinery as a novel concept within a renewable and sustainable chemical industry by which biomass is converted to energy (biofuels production) and other beneficial byproducts (such as chemicals).

Natural enzymes offer a broad spectrum of substrates and catalytic mechanisms, as microorganisms have adapted their metabolism to almost all environments on Earth. Nevertheless, natural enzymes capabilities have been expanded by protein engineering, structural bioinformatics and synthetic biology.  Enzymes and cells immobilization, and the use of non-conventional solvents, are also furthering the progress of a more sustainable chemistry.

Dr. Jorge Bolívar
Dr. Antonio Valle
Guest Editors

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• Synthesis of fine or bulk chemicals using purified enzymes or enzymatic extracts from bacteria, yeast or fungi (in vitro biocatalysis)
• Metabolites production using metabolic engineered living cells (whole cell biocatalysis)
• Design of new enzymes for the synthesis of non-natural compounds by protein engineering, structural bioinformatics and synthetic biology
• Research on new enzymes from environment by screening of enzymatic activities
• Synthesis of secondary metabolites using in vitro biocatalysis or whole cell biocatalysis
• Integration of biocatalysis in biorefinery
• Enzymes and cell immobilization
• Use of non-conventional solvents in in vitro biocatalysis