Introduction of Biocatalysis into Chemical Industry

Microbial processes for industrial production of commodity chemicals are rapidly gaining practical significance for preparation of high purity products, in an environmentally acceptable manner, while realizing energy savings. The use of bacterial nitrile hydratase for industrial production of the important chemical, acrylamide, was recently pioneered in Japan. We review here the enzymatic production of acrylamide and recent progress in the production of other commodity chemicals through microbial processes.