Preface

White biotechnology can be regarded as applied biocatalysis with enzymes and microorganisms, aiming at industrial production from bulk and fine chemicals to food and animal feed additives. In turn, biocatalysis has many attractive features in the context of sustainable chemistry: mild reaction conditions (at physiological pH and temperature), and environmentally compatible catalysts and solvents (often water) combined with high activities and chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity in multifunctional molecules. This affords processes which are shorter, generate less waste and are, therefore, both environmentally and economically more attractive than conventional routes. The main contribution of this book will be the use of white biotechnology (enzymes, microorganisms and plant tissues) within the green chemistry concept for: waste minimization, the use of alternative solvents (supercritical fluids, pressurized gases, ionic liquids and micellar systems) and energy sources (microwaves and ultrasound), besides providing more sustainable approaches for the production of fine and bulk chemicals (aromas, polymers, pharmaceuticals and enzymes), such as the use of renewable resources or agroindustrial residues, and biocatalyst recycling.

This text was driven by considering the concepts involved in both the subjects white biotechnology and sustainable chemistry, so that it could be possible to combine the knowledge obtained in each chapter herein presented. In addition, a contribution from the industrial point of view is also presented to demonstrate the feasibility of bioproduction systems. This last aspect can be considered unique!

We would like to thank all of the authors who agreed to participate in this book project, giving the readers a broad spectrum on the state of the art, since this book combines people from different parts of the world, as well as providing a glance at Brazilian reality.

Maria Alice Z. Coelho and Bernardo D. Ribeiro