Role of Process Intensification in Enzymatic Transformation of Biomass into High-Value Chemicals

With an increased emphasis on green processing methods and a move beyond the use of petrochemical feedstock, it has become important to develop processes to maximize the utilization of existing resources. Biomass is a renewable and abundant source of fuels and chemicals. Enzyme-assisted valorization of biomass is a sustainable alternative to chemical routes due to the superior properties of enzymes such as high enantioselectivity and ability to operate under mild conditions. However, the challenges associated with enzyme de-activation and reusability often limit the application of enzyme catalysis on a commercial scale. This can be circumvented by immobilizing enzymes, which allow for easy recovery and reuse and higher storage and operational stability. Supported enzyme catalysis requires increased mixing, increasing energy costs, and catalyst disintegration, which until now limit the application of conventional batch reactor design. Process intensification (PI) is becoming increasingly popular in the chemical process industry as it allows for better control of chemical reactions on a molecular scale, resulting in enhanced reaction rate and minimizing waste generation. Recent advances in PI reactors such as micro-, membrane, and spinning disk reactors have increased the applicability of enzyme catalysis for production of high-value chemicals. This chapter will focus on enzyme-catalyzed valorization of biomass into high-value products using PI technologies for applications in the fine chemical industries. Opportunities and challenges for the commercialization of these technologies for the application on an industrial scale will also be discussed.