Perspectives on flow biocatalysis: the engine propelling enzymatic reactions

Flow biocatalysis has emerged as an empowering tool to boost the potential of enzymatic reactions towards more automatized, sustainable, and generally efficient synthetic processes. In the last fifteen years, the increasing number of biocatalytic transformations carried out in continuous flow exemplified the benefits that this technology can bring to incorporate biocatalysis into industrial operations. This perspective aims to capture in a nutshell the available methodologies for flow biocatalysis as well as to discuss the current limitations and the future directions in this field. Integration of enzymatic reactions into flow reactors is an exponentially growing technology.Flow biocatalysis can produce valuable molecules for food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals in a more eco-friendly manner.An interdisciplinary effort is needed to overcome the current challenges for industrial flow biocatalysis.