Welcome to the December edition of the CarboZym newsletter!

A rather confusing year is coming to an end. Confusing, not only as a result of the current Ukraine and energy crises, but also on a long-term and global scale. We are currently more than eight billion people living on the planet, but we have not yet responded adequately to the looming climate catastrophe.

We would have really liked to see strong decisions about a decrease in CO2 emissions at the COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, no matter how tough the battle is, but it was not the case.

In the meantime, we are glad to see that last year the synthetic biology industry raised almost $18 billion in investment and predictions of the future market sizes for the bioeconomy range from $4 trillion to $30 trillion!

It means that attention is given to biotechnological solutions when it comes to defossilization of global industries and lifestyles.

There are solutions! Scaling them up is still hampered by sluggish politics or fossil energy companies' mighty power. But private equity investors are quickly and strongly transitioning away from the old oil-based economy and are betting big on these bio-based solutions.

Our enzyme immobilization technology is part of the solution.

You have great enzymes but problems implementing them at scale? Book a 30-minutes call with me!

Biocatalysis is the use of enzymes, which are proteins produced by living organisms, to catalyze chemical reactions. Enzymes are highly selective and efficient catalysts, and they are often able to perform reactions that are difficult or impossible to achieve using traditional chemical catalysts. This makes biocatalysis an attractive option for sustainable chemistry, as it can reduce the use of harsh chemicals and energy-intensive processes.

One way to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of biocatalysis is to immobilize enzymes on a solid support. Immobilized enzymes are attached to a solid support, such as a bead or membrane, which allows them to be easily separated from the reaction mixture and reused. This can increase the stability and activity of the enzymes, and it can also make it easier to scale up biocatalytic reactions for industrial use.

One example of the potential of immobilized enzymes for sustainable chemistry is their use in the production of fine chemicals. Fine chemicals are specialized chemicals used in a wide range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food. Traditionally, the production of fine chemicals has relied on expensive and environmentally damaging processes, such as hydrogenation or halogenation. However, by using immobilized enzymes, it is possible to produce fine chemicals using biocatalytic reactions that are more sustainable and cost-effective.

Overall, immobilized enzymes and biocatalysis are powerful tools for sustainable chemistry, and they have the potential to revolutionize the way we produce chemicals. We are excited to see what new developments and applications will emerge in the field in the coming year.

You have great enzymes but problems implementing them at scale? Book a 30-minutes call with me!

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this month's newsletter!

Jullien, Co-founder and CEO of CarboZym

I hope this newsletter provides a useful overview of biocatalysis, immobilized enzymes, and sustainable chemistry. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions for future newsletters.