INDUSTRIAL ENZYME DEVELOPMENT AND BIOCATALYTIC APPLICATIONS

<jats:p>Biocatalysis has emerged as a fundamental pillar of synthetic chemistry, facilitating a global transition toward a sustainable, knowledge-based bioeconomy. Although enzymes exhibit exceptional chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity and function efficiently under gentle reaction conditions, their use at the industrial scale is frequently limited by the inherent instability of native enzymes under harsh processing environments. This chapter establishes an integrated unified framework of contemporary approaches structured to reconcile the enzymatic performance with manufacturing constraints, accentuating the integration of molecular biotechnology, materials engineering, and process intensification. It maps the progression of the evolution of biocatalyst engineering from classical bioprocessing techniques such as structure-guided design and iterative mutagenesis and screening, which are further empowered through the AI-driven frameworks and machine-learning tools for the de novo enzyme generation and reliable three-dimensional modelling. Central to this discussion is the role of advanced immobilisation matrices, such as Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs), which stabilise biological machines for continuous use and high-yield production cycles. As a further extension, this chapter scrutinizes process intensification through the microfluidic flow reactors and the formulation of chemoenzymatic cascades, which harmonise the chemo catalysis and biocatalysis to enable one-step synthetic processes with low waste accumulation. By analysing the critical case studies spanning the life science, agri-food, and energy industries—including fields such as carbon capture and utilization, waste-to-value conversion—this holistic assessment provides a strategic framework for addressing technological constraints and facilitating the advancement of the sustainable biomanufacturing paradigm.</jats:p>