The international symposium "Fundamentals of Biocatalysis in Non-Conventional Media" was organized under auspices of the working party Applied Biocatalysis of the European Federation of Biotechnology. Among the topics discussed at the symposium were physical-chemical aspects such as pH, water-activity, viscosity, dielectric constants, polarity etc. in relation to biocatalysis in non-conventional media. New measuring techniques were introduced.For people working in the field of biocatalysis in non-conventional media this book will give an excellent overview of the gain in understanding over the last five years of the fundamental aspects of biocatalysis in non-conventional media.

This reference book originates from the interdisciplinary research cooperation between academia and industry. In three distinct parts, latest results from basic research on stable enzymes are explained and brought into context with possible industrial applications. Downstream processing technology as well as biocatalytic and biotechnological production processes from global players display the enormous potential of biocatalysts. Application of "extreme" reaction conditions (i.e. unconventional, such as high temperature, pressure, and pH value) - biocatalysts are normally used within a well defined process window - leads to novel synthetic effects. Both novel enzyme systems and the synthetic routes in which they can be applied are made accessible to the reader. In addition, the complementary innovative process technology under unconventional conditions is highlighted by latest examples from biotech industry.

The book covers the fundamentals of the field of biocatalysis that are not treated in such detail (or even not at all) in existing biocatalysis books or biochemistry textbooks. It of course does not substitute existing biochemistry textbooks but will serve a suitable supplement as it discusses biochemical fundamentals in connection with the respective topics.With focus on the interdisciplinary nature of biocatalysis, the book contains many aspects of fundamental organic chemistry and some of inorganic chemistry as well, which should make it interesting not only for biochemistry but also for chemistry students. An important theme being emphasized in the book is that applied biocatalysis is one of the main prerequisites for a sustainable development.The topics covered ranges from basic enzyme chemistry (biosynthesis, structure, properties, interaction forces, kinetics) to a detailed description of catalytic mechanisms. It covers the fundamentals of the different enzyme classes together with their applications in native and in immobilized state or in the form of whole cells in aqueous as well as non-conventional media. Topics such as catalytic antibodies, nucleic acid catalysts, non-ribosomal peptide synthesis, evolutionary methods, and the design of cells are also included.

In this Completely Revised and Extended Edition with a significantly enhanced content, all Chapters have been updated considering relevant literature and recent developments until 2016 together with application oriented examples with a focus on Industrial Biocatalysis. Newly treated topics comprise among others systems metabolic engineering approaches, metagenome screening, new tools for pathway engineering, and de-novo computational design as actual research areas in biocatalysis. Information about different aspects of RNA technologies, and completely new Chapters on 'Fluorescent Proteins' and 'Biocatalysis and Nanotechnology' are also included.

This book describes the essential steps in the development of biocatalytic processes from concept to completion. It is a carefully integrated text which combines the fundamentals of biocatalysis with technological experience and in-depth commercial case studies. The book starts with an introductory look at the characteristics and present applications of biocatalysts, followed by more detailed overviews of these areas.

The outlook of organic synthesis has changed many times during its tractable history. The initial focus on the synthesis of substances typical of living matter, exemplified by the first examples of organic chemistry through the synthesis of urea from inorganic substances by Liebig, was accepted as the birth of organic chemistry, and thus also of organic synthesis. Although the early developments in organic synthesis closely followed the pursuit of molecules typical in nature, towards the end of the 19th century, societal pressures placed higher demands on chemical methods appropriate for the emerging age of industrialization. This led to vast amounts of information being generated through the discovery of synthetic reactions, spectroscopic techniques and reaction mechanisms. The basic organic functional group transformations were discovered and improved during the early part of this century. Reaction mechanisms were elucidated at a growing pace, and extremely powerful spectroscopic tools, such as infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry were introduced as everyday tools for a practising organic chemist. By the 1950s, many practitioners were ready to agree that almost every molecule could be syn thesized. Some difficult stereochemical problems were exceptions; for example Woodward concluded that erythromycin was a "hopelessly complex target". This frustration led to a hectic phase of development of new and increasingly more ingenious protecting group strategies and functional group transformations, and also saw the emergence of asymmetric synthesis.

Biocatalyst Immobilization: Foundations and Applications provides a comprehensive overview of biocatalytic immobilization processes, as well as methods for study, characterization and application. Early chapters discuss current progress in enzyme immobilization and methods for selecting and pretreating enzymes prior to immobilization, with an emphasis on navigating common challenges and employing enzyme supports and post immobilization treatments to impact enzymatic activity. Process-based chapters instruct on measuring and reporting on enzyme immobilization efficiency, protein final content, quantification of reaction products, and the use of nanomaterials to characterize immobilized enzymes. Later chapters examine recent advances, including novel enzymatic reactors, multi-enzymatic biocatalysts, enzymatic biosensors, whole cell immobilization, the industrial application of immobilized enzymes, and perspectives on future trends. - Provides a thorough overview of biocatalyst and enzyme immobilization for research and practical application - Presents methods based content that instructs in enzyme immobilization pretreatment, enzyme supports, post immobilization treatments, measuring enzyme immobilization efficiency, quantification of reaction products, and whole cell immobilization - Features chapter contributions from international leaders in the field