Applied Biocatalysis
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with theoretical knowledge and applicative skills about biocatalytic processes. Biocatalysis is the use of natural catalysts (enzymes) to perform reactions of interest in all fields of green chemistry. To understand and develop a biocatalytic process is thus necessary to gather tools across different biotechnological techniques. The lectures and the lab help to promote the understanding of the biological and chemical aspects involved in the various phases of the application of biocatalysis.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding:
- Knowing the methodologies useful for making a biocatalytic process of industrial interest;
- Understanding the advantages of biocatalysis in the context of the bioeconomy and chemical transformation;
- Understanding why biocatalysis is strategic in a bio-based industry context;
- Knowing and understanding consolidated and/or recent successful examples of applied biocatalysis
- Knowing the techniques involved in the immobilization of biocatalysts;
- Knowing and understanding the importance of process intensification in applied biocatalysis.
Applying knowledge and understanding
- Applying biotechnological techniques for the evolution of enzymes or microbial cells into efficient biocatalysts;
- Assessing the most suited technologies for intensifying a biocatalytic process;
- Applying the knowledge about consolidated and/or recent successful examples of applied biocatalysis to critically design and optimize biocatalytic processes;
- Assessing the most useful techniques for intensifying a biocatalytic process.
- Knowing the methodologies useful for making a biocatalytic process of industrial interest;
- Understanding the advantages of biocatalysis in the context of the bioeconomy and chemical transformation;
- Understanding why biocatalysis is strategic in a bio-based industry context;
- Knowing and understanding consolidated and/or recent successful examples of applied biocatalysis
- Knowing the techniques involved in the immobilization of biocatalysts;
- Knowing and understanding the importance of process intensification in applied biocatalysis.
Applying knowledge and understanding
- Applying biotechnological techniques for the evolution of enzymes or microbial cells into efficient biocatalysts;
- Assessing the most suited technologies for intensifying a biocatalytic process;
- Applying the knowledge about consolidated and/or recent successful examples of applied biocatalysis to critically design and optimize biocatalytic processes;
- Assessing the most useful techniques for intensifying a biocatalytic process.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
- Introduction to biocatalysis: why? how? The myth and the reality (2 hours);
- Hydrolases and transferases: how do they work? why we do use them? (5 hours);
- Enzyme discovery (3 hours);
- Biocatalytic reactor design and operation (4 hours);
- Redox enzymes: importance and application (6 hours)
- Biocatalyst preparation (4 hours):
· whole cells or isolated enzymes?
· immobilization;
- Techniques in biocatalysis: how biocatalysts can be improved? (4 hours);
· protein engineering, directed evolution
· metabolic engineering
- Biocatalysis at work: biotransformation of feedstocks into added-value molecules (4 hours);
- Examples of industrial biocatalytic processes: isomerases, hydratases and aldolases (4 hours);
- Metabolic engineering and biocatalysis (4 hours)
- Cascade reactions (2 hours)
- Lab practice (8 hours)
- Hydrolases and transferases: how do they work? why we do use them? (5 hours);
- Enzyme discovery (3 hours);
- Biocatalytic reactor design and operation (4 hours);
- Redox enzymes: importance and application (6 hours)
- Biocatalyst preparation (4 hours):
· whole cells or isolated enzymes?
· immobilization;
- Techniques in biocatalysis: how biocatalysts can be improved? (4 hours);
· protein engineering, directed evolution
· metabolic engineering
- Biocatalysis at work: biotransformation of feedstocks into added-value molecules (4 hours);
- Examples of industrial biocatalytic processes: isomerases, hydratases and aldolases (4 hours);
- Metabolic engineering and biocatalysis (4 hours)
- Cascade reactions (2 hours)
- Lab practice (8 hours)
Prerequisites for admission
The course should be attended by students after the first semester of the first year. A basic knowledge of biochemistry is required. You can contact the teacher to obtain indications about texts and bibliographic references that can be studied to fill eventual knowledge gaps in the abovementioned areas.
Teaching methods
The course is divided into interactive lectures with projection of teaching material and discussion of concepts with students and exercises in the classroom to verify the understanding of basic theoretical concepts. The teaching material proposed during the lessons is available on the teacher's MyARIEL website.
Teaching Resources
Notes and monographs made available by the teacher through MyAriel
Assessment methods and Criteria
At least 7 exam sessions per year will be guaranteed. The date of the exam will be published on SIFA platform.
The exam consists of:
1) Oral exam based on questions about the topics covered during the course. an oral presentation of a case-study chosen and selected with the teacher and after a discussion (10-15 minutes) (0-14 grades);
2) two questions about topics discussed during the course (0-13 grades each question)
The learning verification will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
1. Proof of understanding of the topics covered during lectures and laboratory practices;
2. Ability to expose, in a critical and integrated way: how to apply biotechnological techniques (mostly learned in other courses) for the evolution of enzymes or microbial cells into efficient biocatalysts; how to assess the most suited technologies for intensifying a biocatalytic process; how to apply the knowledge about consolidated and/or recent successful examples of applied biocatalysis to critically design and optimize biocatalytic processes; how to assess the most useful techniques for intensifying a biocatalytic process.
You can get feedback from the teacher on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
Specific procedures for students with disabilities or specific learning disabilities (DSA) will be applied also for telematic exams. Here the complete information:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/services-students-disabilities
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/services-students-specific-learning-disabilities-sld
In case you need specific procedures, please inform the teacher by mail at least 10 days before the exam, including in the addresses [email protected] or [email protected].
The exam consists of:
1) Oral exam based on questions about the topics covered during the course. an oral presentation of a case-study chosen and selected with the teacher and after a discussion (10-15 minutes) (0-14 grades);
2) two questions about topics discussed during the course (0-13 grades each question)
The learning verification will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
1. Proof of understanding of the topics covered during lectures and laboratory practices;
2. Ability to expose, in a critical and integrated way: how to apply biotechnological techniques (mostly learned in other courses) for the evolution of enzymes or microbial cells into efficient biocatalysts; how to assess the most suited technologies for intensifying a biocatalytic process; how to apply the knowledge about consolidated and/or recent successful examples of applied biocatalysis to critically design and optimize biocatalytic processes; how to assess the most useful techniques for intensifying a biocatalytic process.
You can get feedback from the teacher on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
Specific procedures for students with disabilities or specific learning disabilities (DSA) will be applied also for telematic exams. Here the complete information:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/services-students-disabilities
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/services-students-specific-learning-disabilities-sld
In case you need specific procedures, please inform the teacher by mail at least 10 days before the exam, including in the addresses [email protected] or [email protected].
CHIM/11 - CHEMISTRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY OF FERMENTATION - University credits: 6
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