Environmental hazards, enzymatic

Chiral drugs and additives are generally not permitted to be used in racemic form (most important exception DL-methionine) so that unintended side effects and unnecessary environmental hazards are avoided. Larger amounts of enantiomerically pure compounds are economically produced by fermentation or (complete) enzymatic conversion of race-mates into the desired enantiomer. Thus, since 420,000 t of L-glutamic acid and large quantities of L-aspartic acid and L-phenylala-nine (for the sweetener aspartame) and o-phe-nylglycine are produced annually, excessive amounts of waste should and can be prevented. [1]... 

Recent research has focused on the development of enzymatic processes for the treatment of wastewaters, solid wastes, hazardous wastes, and soils. The environmental applications may be classified according to their objectives. For example, some processes are specifically designed to accomplish the transformation of target pollutants in wastewater streams to reduce toxicity. Alternatively, the conversion of waste materials can sometimes be achieved in a manner that produces a product with commercial value. Some applications that have recently been identified will be outlined below. 

Despite the great deal of research that has been conducted on enzymatic catalysis in recent years, the potential of this area of catalysis for use in environmentally benign synthesis has just begun to be realized. Due to both the innocuous nature of enzyme catalysts to human health and the environment and their potential for displacing more hazardous catalysts, the use of enzyme catalysts is in concert with the goals of Green Chemistry. 

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