The whole range of biocatalysis, from a firm grounding in theoretical concepts to in-depth coverage of practical applications and future perspectives.
The book not only covers reactions, products and processes with and from biological catalysts, but also the process of designing and improving such biocatalysts.
One unique feature is that the fields of chemistry, biology and bioengineering receive equal attention, thus addressing practitioners and students from all three areas.

Mittlerweile nutzen alle so genannten Life Sciences (z.B. Pharma- und Ernährungswissenschaften) die Möglichkeiten der Biokatalyse. Auch das Interesse der verarbeitenden Industrie an umweltverträglichen Prozessen wächst stetig. Da kommt es nicht von ungefähr, dass die Erforschung von Biokatalysatoren weiter vorangeschritten ist als die anderer Katalysatorentypen. Biocatalysis gibt einen aktuellen Überblick über das Wissen in diesem Gebiet, von den theoretischen Grundlagen bis hin zu Anwendungen und einem Ausblick in die Zukunft.
Bommarius und Riebel geht es in ihrem Buch nicht nur um Reaktionen, Produkte und Prozesse im Zusammenhang mit biologischen Katalysen und Katalysatoren. Sie erläutern auch den Prozess der Entwicklung und Verbesserung von Biokatalysatoren. Dabei schenken sie den Bereichen Chemie, Biologie und Biotechnologie die gleiche Aufmerksamkeit, so dass ihr Buch für Praktiker und Studenten aus allen drei Bereichen von Nutzen ist.
Biocatalysis gliedert sich in die Abschnitte "Grundlagen und Basis-Tools", "Fortgeschrittene Tools" sowie "Anwendungen". Im ersten Teil gehen die Autoren unter anderem auf die Stellung der Biokatalyse in der Biotechnologie ein, beschreiben Isolierung und Vorbereitung von Mikroorganismen und stellen molekularbiologische Tools für die Biokatalyse vor. Teil II beschreibt zum Beispiel die Enzymherstellung sowie Methoden zur Protein-Untersuchung und beschäftigt sich mit pharmazeutischen Anwendungen der Biokatalyse und der Bioinformatik. Im letzten Abschnitt geht es schließlich um künstliche Enzyme, das Design biokatalytischer Prozesse und um neue Möglichkeiten, die sich durch den Einsatz der Bioinformatik eröffnen.

PART I: FUNDAMENTALS AND BASIC TOOLS
Position of biocatalysis within biotechnology
Characterization of a (bio-)catalyst
Isolation and preparation of microorganisms
Molecular biology tools for biocatalysis
Enzyme reaction engineering
Applications of enzymes as bulk actives: detergents, textile, pulp and paper, animal feed
Applications of enzymes as catalyst:Chemicals, fine chemicals, food, pharmaceuticals
PART II: ADVANCED TOOLS
Biotechnological processing steps for enzyme manufacture
Methods for the investigation of proteins
Protein Engineering
Applications of recombinant DNA technology: Directed evolution
Biocatalysis in non-conventional media
Pharmaceutical applications of biocatalysis
Bioinformatics
Systems biology for biocatalysis
PART III: APPLICATIONS
Evolution of biocatalytic function
Stability of proteins
Artificial enzymes
Design of biocatalytic processes
Comparison of biocatalysts with homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical catalysts
New functions through application of bioinformatics
Genomics and proteomics: applications

Andreas S. Bommarius obtained his diploma in Chemistry from the Technical Universtiy in Munich, Germany, and, in 1989, his PhD in Chemical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA,USA. In 1990, he joined Degussa as head of the Biocatalysis Laboratory and pilot plant. Since 2000 he is affiliated at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, as professor in the Schools of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Chemistry and Biochemistry. His main research interests are novel redox enzyme systems, stability of protein biocatalysts, as well as novel catalysts through directed evolution.
Bettina R. Riebel obtained her diploma in Biology at the University of Cologne, Germany, and her PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Düsseldorf, Germany. She then occupied postdoctoral associate positions with Roche Diagnostics (then Boehringer Mannheim) in Penzberg and at the Research Center Jülich. As of 2000, she is part of the Institute of Pathology in the School of Medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, where her main research interests are in host-pathogen relationships, and specifically in tyrosine kinases and cell signaling.

"...the book is excellent and could be read cover to cover or used for reference and I strongly recommend it to anyone interested in the field of biocatalysis whether they be graduate students just entering the field or more experienced practitioners."
Organic Process Research & Development
"This guidebook is warmly recommended to scientists in academia, industry and authorities engaged in biocatalysis because one unique feature of primary importance is that the interdisciplinary fields of chemistry, biology and bioengineering receive equal attention, thus, addressing both practioners and students from all three areas."
AFS
"The book nicely brings together the essentials of biocatalysis including reactions, the products and processes that utilize the methodology, and techniques for improving biocatalysts."
Catalyst
"I strongly recommend it to advanced students, experienced chemists, biologists, and engineers interested in or actively working in biocatalysis, as it is a rich source of information and offers an excellent opportunity to get an insight into neighbouring areas of expertise."
Angewandte Chemie I.E.
"The content of the book is excellent...the book is excellent and could be read cover to cover or used for reference and I strongly recommend it to anyone interested in the field of biocatalysis..."
Organic Process Research & Development
"With their book "Biocatalysis" Bommarius and Riebel successfully bridge the gap between textbooks and original research papers. The book is recommended for advanced students, experienced chemists and engineers interested in the area of industrial biocatalysis."
CHEMBIOCHEM
"...a timely and detailed summary of the important recent developments in the rapidly moving fields pertinent to harnessing the efficiency and specificity of biological catalysts. It will definitely assist research scientists' efforts to improve their own chemical transformations."
Synthesis