Applied Biocatalysis

The course aims to provide students with theoretical knowledge and applicative skills about biocatalytic processes. Biocatalysis is the use of natural catalysts (enzymes) to perform reactions of interest in all fields of green chemistry. To understand and develop a biocatalytic process is thus necessary to gather tools across different biotechnological techniques. The lectures and the lab help to promote the understanding of the biological and chemical aspects involved in the various phases of the application of biocatalysis.

Knowledge and understanding:
- Knowing the methodologies useful for making a biocatalytic process of industrial interest;
- Understanding the advantages of biocatalysis in the context of the bioeconomy and chemical transformation;
- Understanding why biocatalysis is strategic in a bio-based industry context;
- Knowing and understanding consolidated and/or recent successful examples of applied biocatalysis
- Knowing the techniques involved in the immobilization of biocatalysts;
- Knowing and understanding the importance of process intensification in applied biocatalysis.

Applying knowledge and understanding
- Applying biotechnological techniques for the evolution of enzymes or microbial cells into efficient biocatalysts;
- Assessing the most suited technologies for intensifying a biocatalytic process;
- Applying the knowledge about consolidated and/or recent successful examples of applied biocatalysis to critically design and optimize biocatalytic processes;
- Assessing the most useful techniques for intensifying a biocatalytic process.