This module will be all about conversions. That is, how are simple molecules converted to more complex ones, which conversion routes can we take and how does this impact the profitability, sustainability and production rate of our process?

The introduction will show you where the conversion step fits in the overall production process, which starts with the selection of a feedstock and ends with a product ready for shipping.

In part two, we lay out the principles of catalysis by showing how a catalyst can help to speed up chemical reactions and in which shapes and sizes catalysts can be found throughout the chemical industry. You will also learn how they affect the choice for a particular reactor, as well as operating temperatures, energy requirements, and recyclability of the catalyst.

Part three focuses on the cornerstone of the biobased economy: biocatalysis. It uses natural catalysts called proteins to facilitate chemical reactions. You will learn how we can exploit natural and directed evolution in the lab to make these proteins even faster and more efficient.

The last part will deal with fermentations and synthetic biology. Our understanding of biology has grown so much over the years, that scientists have started to design their own production systems inside micro-organisms. You will learn about the usage of whole cells to produce chemicals and how these microscopic chemical factories can be tweaked using state-of-the-art techniques.