Enzyme catalysis: green routes for high value-added products derived from cellulose and starch

ANALIA VÁZQUEZ, PH D; M. L. FORESTI, PH D; C. GÓMEZ HOYOS; L. MALDONADO

Estrasburgo

Congreso; III International conference on biodegradable and biobased. BIOPOL.; 2011

Enzymes are biological catalysts which have shown to efficiently catalyze a number of in vitro reactions. In comparison with chemical catalysts, enzymes show higher selectivity, work under milder conditions, and are environmentally friendlier. On the other hand, many processes mediated by those biological catalysts have shown limited scale up due to their still high costs compared with their chemical counterparts, and the fact that careful optimization of reaction conditions is needed for adequate performance. In the field of biopolymers enzymes find application in their synthesis, modification and degradation. In the current contribution a number of enzyme-catalyzed reactions with starch and cellulose as substrates that may lead to high value-added products will be briefly reviewed. The aim of the work is to exemplify the role of enzyme catalysis as a powerful tool for converting renewable abundant resources into high-value biodegradable products through sustainable routes.