The use of enzymes in the chemical industry in Europe

• Published in: Current Opinion in Biotechnology Vol. 13; no. 4; pp. 359 - 366
• Main Authors: Schmid, Andreas, Hollmann, Frank, Park, Jin Byung, Bühler, Bruno
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2002
• Subjects: Biocatalysis; Biochemistry; Biotechnology; Biotechnology - economics; Biotechnology - methods; Biotechnology - trends; Catalysis; Chemical Biology; chemical industry; Chemical Industry - economics; Chemical Industry - methods; Chemical Industry - trends; Conservation of Energy Resources - methods; Conservation of Energy Resources - trends; Enzymes - biosynthesis; Enzymes - economics; Enzymes - supply & distribution; Europe; industrial bioprocesses; sustainability; Europe; industrial bioprocesses; Biotechnology; Biocatalysis; chemical industry; Chemical Biology; Biochemistry; sustainability
• ISSN: 0958-1669; 1879-0429
• DOI: 10.1016/S0958-1669(02)00336-1

Many European chemical industries are in a phase of reorganization resulting in a general opening towards life sciences. Traditional chemical markets are served increasingly with products derived from bioprocesses or hybrid chemical/biocatalytic processes. Biocatalytic steps are already being used to produce a wide range of products, including agricultural chemicals, organics, drugs and plastic materials, to name but a few. Apart from the rapidly growing number of commercialized bioprocesses, a partial survey of exploratory activities points to future applications of enzymes in the European chemical industry, which will bring new products and technologies and, in some cases, replace traditional syntheses. Many European chemical industries are in a phase of reorganization resulting in a move towards the life sciences. Biocatalytic steps are already being used to produce a wide range of products.