The potential of biocatalytic processes as a key enabling technology for sustainable manufacturing is far from being realized. The main challenge is low process productivity related to typically low substrates and/or products solubilities in water and enzyme deactivation in organic solvents or at high product concentrations. The use of deep eutectic solvents (DESs), an emerging class of green media, can substantially improve solubility and decrease process cost, energy consumption, and waste generation. Stabilization of biocatalysts can be achieved by biocatalyst immobilization, enabling also long-term utilization in continuous flow systems. Reactor miniaturization offers the possibility to obtain high biocatalyst loads, continuous process operation, and excellent mass and heat transport, leading to high biocatalyst and volumetric productivities. Moreover, better process control in microflow systems, the possibility of process integration for in situ product removal, and telescoping of multienzymatic reactions can significantly contribute to biocatalytic process intensification. 

Through this Project jointly funded by Slovenian Research Agency and Croatian Science Foundation, we are devoted to developing of continuous bioconversion of CO₂ into methanol and of furfural to its high-value derivatives using DESs and immobilized biocatalysts in microflow systems comprising multienzymatic reactions and integrated product removal.

Findings originating from this study will extend the knowledge on biocatalytic reactions using DESs and particularly their use in microflow systems aiming to intensify these processes. This will further spur industrial application of stainable biocatalytic processes to address the global warming problem and waste valorization contributing to achieving the targets set by the European Green Deal.