Biocatalysis in Water or in Non-Conventional Media? Adding the CO2 Production for the Debate

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Authors

  • Pablo Domínguez de María
  • Selin Kara
  • Fabrice Gallou

Research Organisations

External Research Organisations

  • Sustainable Momentum SL
  • Aarhus University
  • Novartis AG
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Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number6452
JournalMOLECULES
Volume28
Issue number18
Publication statusPublished - 6 Sept 2023

Abstract

Biocatalysis can be applied in aqueous media and in different non-aqueous solutions (non-conventional media). Water is a safe solvent, yet many synthesis-wise interesting substrates cannot be dissolved in aqueous solutions, and thus low concentrations are often applied. Conversely, non-conventional media may enable higher substrate loadings but at the cost of using (fossil-based) organic solvents. This paper determines the CO2 production—expressed as kg CO2·kg product−1—of generic biotransformations in water and non-conventional media, assessing both the upstream and the downstream. The key to reaching a diminished environmental footprint is the type of wastewater treatment to be implemented. If the used chemicals enable a conventional (mild) wastewater treatment, the production of CO2 is limited. If other (pre)treatments for the wastewater are needed to eliminate hazardous chemicals and solvents, higher environmental impacts can be expected (based on CO2 production). Water media for biocatalysis are more sustainable during the upstream unit—the biocatalytic step—than non-conventional systems. However, processes with aqueous media often need to incorporate extractive solvents during the downstream processing. Both strategies result in comparable CO2 production if extractive solvents are recycled at least 1–2 times. Under these conditions, a generic industrial biotransformation at 100 g L−1 loading would produce 15–25 kg CO2·kg product−1 regardless of the applied media.

Keywords

    biocatalysis, CO production, green chemistry metrics, wastewater

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Sustainable Development Goals

Cite this

Biocatalysis in Water or in Non-Conventional Media? Adding the CO2 Production for the Debate. / Domínguez de María, Pablo; Kara, Selin; Gallou, Fabrice.
In: MOLECULES, Vol. 28, No. 18, 6452, 06.09.2023.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Domínguez de María P, Kara S, Gallou F. Biocatalysis in Water or in Non-Conventional Media? Adding the CO2 Production for the Debate. MOLECULES. 2023 Sept 6;28(18):6452. doi: 10.3390/molecules28186452
Domínguez de María, Pablo ; Kara, Selin ; Gallou, Fabrice. / Biocatalysis in Water or in Non-Conventional Media? Adding the CO2 Production for the Debate. In: MOLECULES. 2023 ; Vol. 28, No. 18.
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