SCV0822 - INDUSTRIAL BIOCATALYSIS

courses

ID:

SCV0822

Duration (hours):

52

CFU:

SSD:

CHIMICA INDUSTRIALE

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Secondo Semestre (24/02/2026 - 20/06/2026)

Course Objectives

Attending this course, students acquire knowledge of fundamental aspects of biocatalysis applied to industrial processes: stereochemical feature of biocatalysis; immobilization and use of biocatalysts; green chemistry principles in biocatalysis. They will be able to solve specific tasks in the optimization and design of biocatalytic processes. In brief they will be able to: assess the feasibility of a biocatalytic process, select the ideal protocol with emphasis on stereochemical and sustainability features and improve existing biocatalytic processes. At the end of the course, students can spend his competences in fine chemicals, food, pharmaceuticals, and materials industries.

Course Prerequisites

Basis of enzymology and knowledge of general and organic chemistry acquired during the bachelor.

Teaching Methods

The course consists of 40 hours of frontal lessons (20 lessons) and 12 h of practical activity. Lessons are supported by PowerPoint but the use of textbooks is warmly suggested. When possible, some lessons will be given by invited professors and experts. Attendance to at least 75% of practical activities is mandatory.

Assessment Methods

The final evaluation is an oral exam, assessing the of knowledge acquired by the candidate on the topics described in the syllabus. At the end of the course, each student gives the teacher a report on laboratory activities. The report will have a mark out of 30. The final exam starts with the student giving a 10 minutes oral presentation on a recent research paper/patent, selected by the candidate, describing an industrially relevant biocatalysis application followed by questions. Proficiency in laboratory activities is evaluated with specific questions combined with the report mark. Final mark is out of 30 (80% theory + 20% laboratory), with minimum 18/30 to pass the exam.

1 – Principles of biocatalysis
1.1 – Introduction to biocatalysis
1.2 – Advantages and disadvantages of biocatalysts
2 – Concepts in Biocatalysis
2.1 – Chemoselectivity, regioselectivity and stereoselectivity
2.2 – Kinetic Resolutions of racemic mixtures
2.3 – Dynamic Kinetic Resolution
2.4 – Transformations with prochiral and meso compounds
3 – Selected classes of biocatalysed reactions
3.1 – Hydrolytic reactions: amidases, esterases and proteases.
3.2 – Redox reactions
3.3 – Transfer reactions: transaminases
4 – Use of enzymes in catalysis
4.1 – Production and isolation of enzymes
4.2 – Enzymes in organic solvents
4.3 – Immobilization of enzymes
4.4 – Reaction and Process Engineering
5 – Biocatalysis and sustainable chemistry
5.1 – Green chemistry principles and metrics
5.2 – Examples of green biocatalytic processes
5.3 – Biotechnology for the production of chemicals
6 – Industrial application of biocatalysis
6.1 – Selected examples of biocatalysis in industry
7 – Laboratory
7.1 – Practical activity to practice with some key aspects of the course (e.g., immobilization of enzymes, biocatalytic processes, and reaction engineering)