Abstract
The challenges of transition towards the post?petroleum world shed light on the biocatalysis as the most sustainable way for the valorization of bio?based raw materials. However, its industrial exploitation strongly relies on integration with innovative technologies such as micro?scale processing. Micro?flow devices remarkably accelerate biocatalyst screening and engineering, as well as process parameters evaluation, and intensify biocatalytic processes in multiphase systems. The inherent feature of microfluidic devices to operate in a continuous mode brings additional interest for their use in chemo?enzymatic cascade systems and in connection with the downstream processing units. Further steps towards automation and analytics integration, as well as computer?assisted process development, will significantly affect the industrial implementation of biocatalysis and fulfill the promises of bioeconomy. This review provides an overview of recent examples on implementation of microfluidic devices into various stages of biocatalytic process development comprising ultrahigh?throughput biocatalyst screening, highly efficient biocatalytic process design including specific immobilization techniques for long?term biocatalyst use, integration with other (bio)chemical steps and/or downstream processing.
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