Chemicals Industry Biocatalysis Roadmap Summary
An electronic copy of the roadmap can be downloaded (PDF 610 KB) Download Adobe Reader.
Background
A biocatalysis workshop was held on November 16-17, 1999 in Palo Alto, CA and was hosted by Genencor International, Inc. The results from this workshop were compiled into a roadmap entitled New Biocatalysts: Essential Tools for a Sustainable 21st Century Chemical Industry.
Vision Linkage
Biocatalysts and improved biochemical processing are two high-priority research areas identified in Vision 2020 under the Bioprocesses and Biotechnology emphasis area. Bioprocesses promise to be exceptionally important in the coming decade as lower energy and more environmentally friendly process methods are developed. Biocatalysis requires research in protein engineering, biometry, combinatorial chemistry, and related areas to produce selective catalysts with unique properties needed to perform functions foreseen for 2020.
Goal
- Reduce the material, water, and energy consumption and pollutant dispersal by 30% in the next two decades
Priority R&D Needs
- Fine Chemical/Small Volume Processes - Identify contents of biocatalyst developmental toolbox, develop mediators and electrodes for electrically coupling enzymes (including photochemical)
- Industrial/High Volume - Develop new catalysts for hydrolases, isomeraese, transferases, oxidoreductases, lyases, and ligases
- Screening/Selection/Development of Biocatalysts - Develop tools for computational biology to develop better descriptions of enzyme mechanisms
- Use of Whole Organisms - Improve understanding of metabolic pathway engineering and develop better tools for probing metabolism of whole cells