Tailored Materials and Enzymes for Industrial Processes – Sustainability Module

Informasi umum tentang kursus

The iMooX-course “Tailored Materials and Enzymes for Industrial Processes – Sustainability and Industrial Applications” focusses on how biocatalysis can be implemented at industrial scale, and will show how enzymatic solutions can become environmentally-friendly and industrially relevant at the same time. The original MOOC contained two major Topics which have in 2026 been extended with new content as a bonus. The first Part, covering four lectures, will provide the fundamentals of sustainability, discussing from environmental metrics to the use of biogenic resources and some concepts related to bioeconomy. The first two lectures will show how the environmental impact of biocatalytic reactions can be measured with meaningful and easy-to-implement metrics, and how a broader analysis can be made by implementing Life-Cycle-Assessments (LCA) strategies. The other two lectures will explain the current transition from petroleum-based chemicals to a new paradigm based on biomasses as feedstocks.

The second Part, composed of two lectures, will show different biocatalytic industrial cases, emphasizing in each case why enzymes provide an advantage, based on selectivity, mild reaction conditions, versatility in different reaction media, etc. Overall, a broad perspective on the possibilities of biocatalysis at industrial scale will be given. The Units will be completed with some interviews between young scientists and industrial biotechnology leaders and experimental videos.

The new “supplementary/bonus” content has been added in two units. These have been added by the members of DECADES (2023-2027) a HorizonEurope MSCA Doctoral Network. DECADES took over the role as flag bearer for the three MOOCs when the INTERfaces (2020-2024) project time ended. The doctoral candidates of DECADES have added their view on biocatalysis and its possible benefits for a more sustainable chemical Industry in personal interviews. Furthermore, Prof. Andrés R. Alcantara kindly added a lecture on “Biotransformations in Green Solvents” contributing to the educational content of the MOOC and a new experimental video. After each core lecture, a quiz must be completed and passed to successfully end the corresponding Unit. The course is not only taught for students at BSc. and MSc. study levels but also to attract attention from industrial chemists interested in applying enzymes to synthesize chemicals for our daily use.

While this course can stand alone, it has been designed as part of a three MOOC series of “Tailored Materials and Enzymes for industrial Processes”:

1. “Tailored Materials and Enzymes for Industrial Processes – Basic Module”
2. “Tailored Materials and Enzymes for Industrial Processes – Advanced Module”
3. “Tailored Materials and Enzymes for Industrial Processes – Sustainability Module”

We highly recommend attending all these three MOOCs in the intended order for the best learning experience.

The first version of this course has been developed and realized in the frame of the project INTERfaces - Heterogeneous biocatalysis reaction cascades training network (H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Innovative Training Networks (ITN) – European Industrial Doctorates (EID)). Additional content has been developed and realized in the frame of the project DECADES - Design of CAtalytic processes with Deep-Eutectic-Solvents (HorizonEurope Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks (DN)).

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 860414, and the HorizonEurope research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101072731.