This course aims to provide students with the general concepts related to the chemical aspects of catalysis and its applications in the biological and biotechnological fields. Starting from the fundamental aspects of chemical kinetics, a path will be developed which will result in the student being able to discuss the reaction mechanism of some processes of biotechnological interest, identifying the possible catalytic nature of the same and critically discussing the various phases and possible industrial applications.

1) Knowledge and understanding: acquisition by the student of specific contents relating to: i) general principles of chemical kinetics and catalysis; ii) identification of catalytic processes of biotechnological interest, with detailed description of the various phases; iii) placement of the systems studied in the more general context of catalysis and industrial biocatalysis. 2) Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: the student's ability to analyze, in the light of the knowledge acquired, the possible interest, even on a large scale, of a catalytic process, both natural and summary, critically examining the various phases and any application objectives. 3) Making judgments; the teaching will provide the student with the ability to work independently in judgment, also through critical consultation and comparison of teaching materials of various types. In any case, the ability of the individual to interact critically with the other components of a homogeneous class will be developed, stimulating in particular the interaction between the components of the same. 4) Communication skills: the student who attends the course will be continuously asked to illustrate, also through audiovisual techniques, the progress made in the study of the discipline and in the learning of the presented concepts. The teacher will also stimulate the discussion also through an exchange of opinions between the attending students, who will thus become an active part in the process of communication and elaboration of the individual. 5) Ability to learn (learning skills): it will be constantly stimulated also through the administration of tests and exercises to be performed autonomously, with the aim of restoring the results and comparing them with those obtained by students attending the same class. Class exercises and simulations of the final test will also be carried out.

Knowledge and understanding
The course aims to provide students with the theoretical and application bases related to the use of biocatalytic systems applied to various industrial sectors. A broad overview is offered of processes assisted by biocatalysts characterized by real commercial relevance

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
The student will acquire from the course the guidelines in the selection of the catalyst, of the possible immobilization method and of the most suitable reactor configuration for the target application. Furthermore, he will be in possession of elements that allow him to make a targeted choice between possible alternative commercial formulations containing the enzyme in question, based on information provided by the manufacturer and the scientific literature.

Expected learning outcomes
Basic knowledge of current applications of enzymes in the free or immobilized form in industrial biocatalysis.