Biocatalyst polymeric structure

Biocatalyst immobilized within the membrane polymeric structure. 

A membrane can be generated by polymerization around a few biocatalyst molecules which surround a space of a few hundred micrometers (microencapsulation Figure 5.6, option 5), or it can be of macroscopic dimensions (Figure 5.6, option 6). In the latter case, membrane reactors can be classified according to (i) driving force, (ii) pore structure and (iii) pore size. 

To date, the limited use of the enantioselectivity of biocatalysts in polymerization conditions and the lengthy synthetic procedures required to prepare optically pure monomers have hampered full exploitation of chemo-enzymatic approaches in polymer chemistry. However, a combined multidisciplinary effort at the interface of biocatalysis, polymer chemistry and organic catalysis, will allow to convert methods well-established in organic chemistry such as tandem catalysis, to the field of polymer chemistry. Undoubtedly, in the near future the exploitation of the selectivity of enzymes and the advantages of chemo-enzymatic approaches in a wide variety of polymerization chemistries will be recognized. This may lead to a paradigm shift in polymer chemistry and allow a higher level of structural complexity in macromolecules, reminiscent to those found in Nature. 

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