ABSTRACT
Biocatalysis, a subfield of biotechnology, is the use of enzymes or whole cells as an alternative to chemical catalysts in connection with the production of goods. This chapter recalls some properties of enzymes are recalled, including their classification together with a brief historical background, structural aspects, basics of enzyme kinetics, the phenomenon of promiscuity, and the design of biotransformations and methods to improve biocatalysts. The catalyzed conversion of a substrate to a product requires its interaction with the catalyst—in this case the enzyme. The chapter deals with different ways of designing enzyme-catalyzed reactions and discusses the application of active site mimics. Apart from transferring the biocatalyst to an insoluble state by immobilization the reaction in question may be performed in solvents other than water which are organic solvents, ionic liquids, or supercritical fluids. Organic solvents represent a high amount of hazardous industrial waste with the well-known negative effects concerning air and soil pollution, and climate change.
