Mirror, mirror on the wall which is the greenest of them all? A critical comparison of chemo- and biocatalytic oxyfunctionalisation reactions

This review article critically compares two widely used types of catalysis, chemo- and biocatalysis, and provides insights on their greenness according to specified parameters. A comparative analysis of the environmental impact of chemo- and biocatalytic oxyfunctionalisation reactions based on published experimental data reveals that both...

Differences in barriers for controlled learning about safety between biotechnology and chemistry

The increasing societal demand for safer, biobased products, and processes<br/>creates opportunities for industrial biotechnology and chemistry. To succeed,<br/>controlled learning about new emerging risks is crucial but both fields endure<br/>difficulty in doing so by their respective regulation and risk management culture.

Continuous-flow CvFAP photodecarboxylation of palmitic acid under environmentally friendly conditions

The fatty acid photodecarboxylase from Chlorella variabilis NC64A (CvFAP) promotes the elimination of CO₂ from fatty acids (C_n) producing the corresponding hydrocarbon (_Cn-1). Therefore, this enzyme is of great biotechnological interest since it can be used in alternative biofuel production routes matching the...

Energising the E-factor: The E⁺-factor

The E-factor has become an important measure for the environmental impact of (bio)chemical reactions. However, summing up the obvious wastes generated in the laboratory neglects energy-related wastes (mostly greenhouse gases) which are generated elsewhere. To estimate these wastes, we propose to extend the E-factor by an energy-term (E<sup>+<...

Light-driven enzymatic decarboxylation

Oxidoreductases belong to the most-applied industrial enzymes. Nevertheless, they need external electrons whose supply is often costly and challenging. Recycling of the electron donors NADH or NADPH requires the use of additional enzymes and sacrificial substrates. Interestingly, several oxidoreductases accept hydrogen peroxide as electron...