biocatalys

Biocatalys, often referred to as biocatalysis, is the use of biological catalysts—primarily enzymes and, in some cases, whole cells—to accelerate chemical reactions. Biocatalysis seeks to harness the natural specificity and efficiency of biological systems to perform transformations under mild conditions, typically in aqueous media at ambient temperatures and pressures. Enzymes can be sourced from living organisms or produced by recombinant expression and then used directly or after purification. In addition to isolated enzymes, immobilized enzymes and whole-cell biocatalysts are common for industrial processes.

Biocatalysts enable a wide range of reactions, including hydrolysis, oxidation, reduction, transformations of carbon–carbon bonds, amination, and glycosylation. Enzymes offer high chemoselectivity, regioselectivity, and often enantioselectivity, which reduces side products and simplifies purification. Immobilization techniques allow repeated or continuous use, while whole-cell systems can supply necessary cofactors and offer multi-step catalytic capabilities. Biocatalysis is integrated into diverse workflows, from laboratory-scale synthesis to industrial manufacturing, and can be coupled with traditional chemical steps to create hybrid processes.

Applications encompass pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, fine chemicals, flavors and fragrances, and renewable energy-related processes. Examples include lipases for environmentally friendly esterifications, transaminases for enantioselective amine synthesis, and aldolases for stereoselective carbon–carbon bond formation. Despite strengths in sustainability and selectivity, challenges remain, such as enzyme stability, limited substrate scope, cofactor requirements, and scaling up. Ongoing research in protein engineering, directed evolution, and advances in immobilization and process design continues to broaden the practical reach of biocatalysis.