Commercial scale biocatalysis: myths and realities

The unique ways in which enzymes are differentiated from other catalysts translate into special advantages. Understanding these advantages is the key toward better matching of biocatalysts needs in industrial chemistry. Specific cases where enzymes and biotransformations have been used successfully at the production scale are examined, permitting the realities of using biocatalysts to be separated from the misconceptions and myths. Five such misconceptions will be examined in the context of examples of some commercially-successful biocatalytic processes.