Biocatalysis is the use of natural substances, such as enzymes, to speed up chemical reactions. It is a form of catalysis, which is the process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance known as a catalyst. Biocatalysis is a key technology in a variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, and biofuels.
The use of enzymes to catalyze chemical reactions has been known for centuries. For thousands of years, people have used fermentation to produce bread, cheese, and alcoholic beverages. In the 19th century, Louis Pasteur discovered that microorganisms were responsible for fermentation, and he was the first to use the term "ferment" to describe the substances that were responsible for the process. In the 20th century, the discovery of enzymes and their role in catalysis led to the development of new methods of biocatalysis.
Today, biocatalysis is used in a wide variety of applications. It is used to produce a variety of products, including pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, and biofuels. It is also used in a variety of industrial processes, such as the production of detergents and textiles. The field of biocatalysis is growing rapidly, with new technologies and applications emerging all the time.