Biokatalizáció

Biokatalizáció refers to the use of biological catalysts, primarily enzymes or whole microorganisms, to accelerate or initiate chemical reactions. These biocatalysts offer several advantages over traditional chemical catalysts, including high specificity, efficiency under mild reaction conditions (temperature, pH, pressure), and biodegradability. Enzymes are proteins that exhibit remarkable selectivity, often catalyzing a single reaction or a very specific set of reactions with high stereoselectivity and regioselectivity. This precision is crucial in industries where the formation of specific isomers or enantiomers is important.

The process of biokatalysis can be employed in various forms. Enzymes can be used in their native state, immobilized onto solid supports to improve stability and facilitate recovery, or even engineered to enhance their catalytic properties. Whole cells can also act as biocatalysts, leveraging their entire metabolic machinery to perform complex transformations. This approach is particularly useful for multi-step reactions or when cofactors are required and difficult to regenerate artificially.

Biokatalysis finds widespread application in diverse fields such as pharmaceuticals, where it's used for the synthesis of chiral drugs; in the food industry, for processes like baking, brewing, and cheese production; in the detergent industry, to enhance cleaning power; and in the development of biofuels and bioremediation strategies. Its inherent sustainability and reduced environmental impact are driving its increasing adoption as a greener alternative to conventional chemical synthesis methods.