Biocatalysis: A Multifaceted Examination of Free and Immobilized Enzymes

In the current landscape of chemical processes, a predominant focus gravitates toward the integration of green chemistry principles, emphasizing the imperative of maximizing reaction yields while minimizing by-products in adherence to the concept of atom economy. This paradigm shift has underscored the significance of employing biocatalysts, particularly enzymes renowned for their remarkable selectivity and specificity, as pivotal components of sustainable solutions. In essence, enzymes stand as indispensable allies in the pursuit of sustainable chemical processes, offering a multifaceted solution that aligns with the ethos of green chemistry. Their unique catalytic properties and biocompatibility render them not just catalysts but catalysts with an environmentally conscious edge, promising advancements that resonate across various industrial landscapes while fostering a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach from the production of pharmaceutically active compounds to energy production, from fine chemistry to polymer science, and so forth. In this thesis work, we focused specifically on two classes of enzymes: lipases and dehydrogenases. Lipases exhibit remarkable chemoselectivity, regioselectivity, and stereoselectivity during catalysis. These enzymes, abundant and accessible, can be efficiently produced in significant quantities by microbial organisms, notably fungi and bacteria. Moreover, lipases typically function independently of cofactors and minimize catalyzing side reactions. These combined attributes establish lipases as the primary and widely adopted group of biocatalysts within the realm of organic chemistry. The second group of enzymes under study comprises alcohol dehydrogenases, specifically focusing on horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (HLADH). Alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) have garnered considerable interest owing to their crucial involvement in alcohol metabolism, detoxification of xenobiotics, and broader implications within enzymology and biochemistry research. HLADH, an extensively researched enzyme extracted from equine liver tissue, plays a pivotal role in various enzymatic processes, thus warranting detailed investigation.