Biocatalytic Conversion of Granular Starch to Industrial Chemicals

Biocatalytic systems to economically produce biochemicals using less expensive feedstocks like granular starches are an attractive alternative to petroleum based chemical synthesis. This is due, in part, to significant advances in our understanding and application of genetic and metabolic engineering of host organisms and granular starch hydrolyzing enzymes. This book chapter explores a GSHE (granular starch hydrolyzing enzyme) process for the conversion of granular starch feedstocks to glucose, and the concomitant conversion of glucose by microorganisms and/or enzymes, to desired chemical products. In this process, conversion of glucose to products parallels its formation by enzymatic catalysis. This reduces enzyme inhibition and speeds the conversion of granular starch to products. Furthermore, such a process provides key glucose-controlled biocatalytic conditions, which are critical in many fermentative processes.