Comparative life cycle assessment of NAD(P)H regeneration technologies

Abstract

NAD(P)H is a key cofactor widely used in biocatalytic reductive transformations, facilitating a wide range of industrially significant reactions which ultimately result in the consumption of the costly cofactor. To make NAD(P)H dependent biotransformations sustainable and economically feasible, different catalytic routes have been investigated to regenerate NAD(P)H. Here we report a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) of these catalytic regeneration methods. Midpoint characterisation and normalisation show that the synthesis of the catalyst, specifically the use of noble metals and energy consumption, dominate the environmental impacts and have the greatest contribution to all considered impact categories. This comparative LCA highlights the need for future investigation into noble metal based catalyst alternatives, to provide cleaner and more sustainable methods of regenerating the cofactor NAD(P)H.