Flow biocatalysis 101: design, development and applications

Abstract

The integration of enzyme-catalyzed reactions in flow systems has been boosted during the last few years. Nowadays, biocatalysis is officially recognized as a tool to increase reaction specificity and sustainability, however applications are sometimes characterized by low productivity. A logical step to improve the performance of biocatalytic reactions is represented by the combination of enzymes and flow facilities. This tutorial review aims at introducing the key concepts of flow biocatalysis, guiding the reader through its advantages and highlighting the current trends in the field to encourage innovative applications of enzymes in flow reactors. Experimental cases are also presented and discussed as a troubleshooting guide for development of flow biocatalytic processes.