BIOCATALYSIS IN ORGANIC-CHEMISTRY .1. PAST AND PRESENT

Methods used in the manufacture of both ethanol and ascorbic acid have been developed over the past 150 years. The early stages of the devel opment of both processes were characterized by the interaction between chemists, biologists and engineers, but social and economic influence s also played their part. The history of these two examples illustrate s the diversity of skills and influences needed for the application of biological catalysis to large-scale chemical manufacture.