Abstract

Enzyme biocatalysis has a fundamental role in the transition to sustainable chemical industry. Biocatalyst design (as immobilized enzymes) is an enabling technology to facilitate enzyme application in multiple areas. The primary function of enzyme immobilization is simplifying the enzyme handling and allowing reuse or continuous use. Additionally, enzyme immobilization allows the modulation of functional properties by applying the immobilization updated knowledge. The design of a practical and suitable enzyme-immobilized biocatalyst involves a multiparameter process. Different aspects mastered by diverse scientific and technological disciplines must be jointly applied. In this book chapter, an overview of these aspects related to the enzyme, the material support, and the chemistry is given. We describe the early applications of enzyme immobilization, the current trends, and the biocatalyst design at the edge of the new demands and opportunities. Integrated design is needed where protein engineering, materials sciences, enzyme catalysis, and process engineering are considered in their synergic interdependency.