Reversible bioreductions

When evaluating the commercial potential and feasibility of a biosorption application the following aspects should be considered assessment of the competing technologies (precipitation, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and bioreduction), assessment of the market size and the cost of new biosorbents (including purchase/cultivation, pre-treatment and immobilisation). 

In this chapter, latest advancements in solvent engineering in bioreductions and greener needs for bioreaction media have been discussed in depth with recent examples. Solvents for bioreductions may be categorized as (i) aqueous (ii) water/water-miscible (monophasic aqueous-organic system) (iii) water/ water-immiscible (biphasic aqueous-organic system) (iv) nonaqueous (mono-phasic organic system, including solvent-free system) and (v) nonconventional media (e.g., ionic liquids, supercritical fluids, gas-phase media, and reverse micelles). 

---