Summary

Biocatalysis and biotechnology are rapidly advancing areas of research with the significant advantages of high specificity, efficiency, energy conservation, and pollution reduction. With applications in industrial processes and the huge world nutraceutical and functional food market, of which the US alone is responsible for more than $100 billion per year, this is clearly a domain that needs a comprehensive reference for the current knowledge in the field.

Biocatalysis and Biotechnology for Functional Foods and Industrial Products is an in-depth collection of reviews of the current advances in biocatalysis and biotechnology as presented at the International Symposium on Biocatalysis and Biotechnology held at the National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan in October 2005. With an emphasis on functional foods and industrial products, this is the most current compendium available. Internationally recognized scientists from US, Japan, Korea, Iceland, Germany, and Taiwan share their valuable research results on topics within the general definition of biocatalysis and biotechnology. Covering the latest applications for enzyme catalysis, biotransformation, bioconversion, fermentation, genetic engineering, and product recovery, this book outlines one-step catalytic reactions as well as many sequential reaction steps involved in production. Divided into two sections, the first presents cutting edge information on functional food research including health food, nutritional supplements, and nutraceuticals. Chapters include enzymatic fractionation, chemoenzymatic synthesis, and novel biofunctions for functional nutrients. The second section is devoted to industrial applications such as the biotransformation of aliphatic hydrocarbons, biodegradable industrial lubricants, and the stabilization of living microbial biological control agents for insecticides.

Providing a comprehensive review of the modern development of biocatalysis and biotechnology, Biocatalysis and Biotechnology for Functional Foods and Industrial Products is a valuable reference for researchers and scientists as well as an indispensable introduction of the state-of-the-science for newcomers to the field.