Biocatalysis offers a versatile approach for converting various carbon sources into valuable products. Some common carbon sources that can be effectively utilized include:
Sugars: Glucose, sucrose, fructose, and other sugars derived from biomass such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and starch can be converted into biofuels (like ethanol), organic acids (such as citric acid), and various other chemicals.
Lignocellulosic biomass: This includes materials like wood, agricultural residues, and grasses. Biocatalysis can break down the complex structure of lignocellulose into simpler sugars that can then be fermented or enzymatically converted into fuels, chemicals, and other products.
Waste materials: Biocatalysis can utilize waste materials such as food waste, wastewater, and agricultural residues to produce valuable products, thereby providing a sustainable solution for waste management.
Industrial by-products: Certain industrial processes generate carbon-rich by-products that can be converted using biocatalysis. For example, glycerol, a by-product of biodiesel production, can be converted into valuable chemicals using biocatalysts.
Carbon dioxide (CO2): Biocatalysis offers the potential to convert CO2 into useful products through processes like microbial fermentation or enzymatic reactions. This approach can help mitigate CO2 emissions while simultaneously producing valuable chemicals.
Methane (CH4): Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, can be converted into value-added products such as methanol or other organic compounds using biocatalytic processes.
Renewable feedstocks: Biocatalysis can also utilize renewable feedstocks like algae or certain bacteria to produce biofuels, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.
Depending on what do you want to accomplish, the strategies and approaches vary.