Abstract
Industrial biotechnology or white biotechnology is an area of growing academic, public and private interest. The global white (or industrial) biotechnology market of ~50 billion US$ is smaller than the red biotechnology (pharmaceutical) market ( > 70 billion US$). However, industrial white biotechnology represents a greater long term business potential than red biotechnology. It is estimated that at least 20% of global chemicals (∼2290 billion US$ today) could be produced by biotechnological means in 2020. The bad news is that this potential is spread over diverse markets and various product/molecule classes. This variety is more difficult to handle on the one hand, but on the other it comes with longer life cycles. Currently there are a number of in vitro and in vivo methods available for the manufacture chemicals on an industrial scale by biotechnological means. These methods include reactions with enzymes in ordinary stirred tank chemical reactors, microbial fermentation, plant cell culture, manufacturing products with plants (pharming) or other methods. This review summarises and discusses the advantages and limitations of the different in vivo and in vitro methods which could potentially be used for the biotechnological production of chemicals.
Keywords: Industrial biotechnology, small molecule pharmaceuticals, fermentation, biotransformation, transgenic plants, microorgansms, plant cell culture
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Applications of Molecular Descriptors in Physicochemical Properties Research of Organic Compounds
Chemical graph theory is concerned with all aspects of the application of graph theory to various areas of chemistry, including organic, theoretical, mathematical, and computational chemistry, as well as in bioinformatics and computational biology. By the use of the term chemical it is emphasized that one is allowed in chemical ...read more
Navigating the 2D Universe in Organic Chemistry
This special issue explores the transformative impact of two-dimensional (2D) materials on the realm of organic chemistry, unraveling new possibilities for synthesis, functionalization, and applications of organic compounds. Focused on the unique chemistry within this novel dimension, the issue highlights breakthroughs in the field of 2D organic chemistry. Contributions are ...read more
Related Books
Advances in Organic Synthesis
The Synthetic Methods, Structures, and Properties of the Ca-C σ Bond Organocalcium Containing Compounds
Advances in Organic Synthesis
Chemistry of Bipyrazoles: Synthesis and Applications
Advances in Organic Synthesis
Advanced Nanocatalysis for Organic Synthesis and Electroanalysis
Advances in Organic Synthesis
Advances in Organic Synthesis
14