Continuous Biocatalysis in Environmentally‐Friendly Media: A Triple Synergy for Future Sustainable Processes

Abstract

Abstract Enzyme catalysis (biocatalysis) is a mature strategy to perform organic synthesis with high selectivity and under mild reaction conditions. However, despite their origin and biodegradability, the simple use of enzymes is not sufficient to validate a process as green or sustainable. To reinforce the value that biocatalysis may offer, enzymatic processes can be established in environmentally‐friendly media, such as water, neoteric solvents (e. g. deep‐eutectic‐solvents, DES), biogenic solvents (e. g. 2‐MeTHF or terpenes), or even solvent‐free systems (if substrates allow that). Furthermore, these options can be conducted in continuous biocatalytic processes, which are more efficient and sustainable. Hence, a triple synergy is generated, and very promising environmentally‐friendly options can be envisaged. This conceptual paper discusses these alternatives, providing relevant, recently reported, successful examples.