Working Group on Biotransformations

Chairman Prof. John M. Woodley Technical University of Denmark Department of Chemical Engineering 2800 Lyngby Denmark Tel.: ++45 4525 2885 Email: jw@kt.dtu.dk

Vice-Chairman Prof. Dr. Andreas Schmid University of Dortmund Chair of Chemical Biotechnology Department of Biochemical & Chemical Engineering Emil Figge Str. 66 D-44227 Dortmund Germany Tel: +49 231 755 7380 (office) Tel: +49 231 755 7381 (secretary) Fax: +49 231 755 7382 Email: schmid@bci.uni-dortmund.de

Introduction
The mission of the Working Group is to serve as a communication platform for the scientists and engineers both from academia and industry that deal with the research and development of biocatalytic and biotransformation processes. Biocatalytic and biotransformation reactions differ from other biotechnological processes in that that they exploit only very limited part of the metabolic capabilities of cells. They, in general, represent a sequence of enzymatic reactions but, many important industrial biocatalytic processes. The ultimate goal of the people involved in the Working Group is a successful transfer of biotransformation processes from a laboratory flask into industrial scale bioreactors.
The focus of the Working Group is on the engineering aspects of biocatalysis and biotransformation. These include issues such as the development of novel biocatalytic reactors, design of biocatalytic and biotransformation production processes, integration of reaction and separation processes, process stability of biocatalysts, effect of reaction environment on the reactor performance, etc.

Mission
The Working Group is primarily a communication platform for biochemical engineers from academia and industry active in the field of biocatalysis and biotransformation. This exchange of information and experience on the innovative research and development occurs through the traditional biannual ESBES symposia and independent events organized by the Working Group. The collaboration of ESBES and EFB Section on Applied Biocatalysis is a second pillar of the Working Group since the scientists working on the molecular and reactor aspects of biotransformation must communicate in order to understand each other.