Biocatalytic processes in ionic liquids: a green platform for a sustainable future

Enzymes are natural and sustainable catalysts owing to their biodegradability and origin from renewable resources. Biocatalytic transformation processes are inherently greener than the traditional chemical approaches, generating less waste while achieving superior enantio-, regio- and stereoselectivity under mild reaction conditions. These significant benefits have led to widespread applications in the chemical industry. In this context, the use of non-innocent ionic liquids (ILs) has emerged as a crucial tool to enable the development of sustainable both enzymatic and chemoenzymatic processes, not only enhancing the catalytic efficiency but also allowing the design of straightforward protocols for pure product separation (e.g. IL/scCO2 biphasic reactors, sponge-like ILs). The synergistic effects observed when combining ILs with biocatalysts represent one of the most efficient strategies for achieving sustainable processes based on a circular economy. This review illustrates through many examples how the suitable combination of biocatalysts and IL technologies enables the design of green platforms for building a more sustainable future. This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Ionic liquids and the future of soft materials'.