Applied biocatalysis
A.A. 2025/2026
Obiettivi formativi
Il corso si propone di fornire agli studenti conoscenze teoriche e competenze applicative sui processi biocatalitici. La biocatalisi consiste nell'utilizzo di catalizzatori naturali (enzimi) per eseguire reazioni di interesse in vari ambiti della chimica verde. Per comprendere e sviluppare un processo biocatalitico è necessario integrare strumenti provenienti da diverse tecniche biotecnologiche. Le lezioni e il laboratorio aiutano a promuovere la comprensione degli aspetti biologici e chimici coinvolti nelle varie fasi dell'applicazione della biocatalisi.
Risultati apprendimento attesi
Conoscenza e comprensione:
- Conoscere le metodologie utili per la realizzazione di un processo biocatalitico di interesse industriale;
- Comprendere i vantaggi della biocatalisi nel contesto della bioeconomia e delle trasformazioni chimiche;
- Comprendere perché la biocatalisi sia strategica nel contesto di un'industria a base biologica;
- Conoscere ed comprendere esempi consolidati e/o recenti di biocatalisi applicata con successo
- Conoscere le tecniche di immobilizzazione dei biocatalizzatori;
- Comprendere l'importanza dell'intensificazione dei processi nell'ambito della biocatalisi applicata.
Applicare conoscenza e comprensione:
- Applicare tecniche biotecnologiche per l'evoluzione di enzimi o cellule microbiche in biocatalizzatori efficienti;
- Valutare le tecnologie più adatte per intensificare un processo biocatalitico;
- Applicare la conoscenza di esempi consolidati e/o recenti di biocatalisi applicata per progettare e ottimizzare in modo critico i processi biocatalitici;
- Valutare le tecniche più utili per intensificare un processo biocatalitico.
- Conoscere le metodologie utili per la realizzazione di un processo biocatalitico di interesse industriale;
- Comprendere i vantaggi della biocatalisi nel contesto della bioeconomia e delle trasformazioni chimiche;
- Comprendere perché la biocatalisi sia strategica nel contesto di un'industria a base biologica;
- Conoscere ed comprendere esempi consolidati e/o recenti di biocatalisi applicata con successo
- Conoscere le tecniche di immobilizzazione dei biocatalizzatori;
- Comprendere l'importanza dell'intensificazione dei processi nell'ambito della biocatalisi applicata.
Applicare conoscenza e comprensione:
- Applicare tecniche biotecnologiche per l'evoluzione di enzimi o cellule microbiche in biocatalizzatori efficienti;
- Valutare le tecnologie più adatte per intensificare un processo biocatalitico;
- Applicare la conoscenza di esempi consolidati e/o recenti di biocatalisi applicata per progettare e ottimizzare in modo critico i processi biocatalitici;
- Valutare le tecniche più utili per intensificare un processo biocatalitico.
Periodo: Secondo semestre
Modalità di valutazione: Esame
Giudizio di valutazione: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Corso singolo
Questo insegnamento può essere seguito come corso singolo.
Programma e organizzazione didattica
Edizione unica
Responsabile
Periodo
Secondo semestre
Programma
- 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)
Prerequisiti
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.
Metodi didattici
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.
Materiale di riferimento
Notes and monographs made available by the teacher through MyAriel
Modalità di verifica dell’apprendimento e criteri di valutazione
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 - CHIMICA E BIOTECNOLOGIA DELLE FERMENTAZIONI - CFU: 6
Laboratori: 16 ore
Lezioni: 40 ore
Lezioni: 40 ore