Environmental protection and economization of resources by electroorganic and electroenzymatic syntheses

The electrochemical methodology is an intrinsically environmentally friendl y technique. It is especially excellently suited for preventive environment al protection because the practically mass-free electrons are used as reage nts. Therefore, it allows the production of organic compounds without the f ormation of ecologically critical waste which has to be disposed. In additi on, toxic waste formation can be prevented by continuous in situ or two-ste p electrochemical regeneration of heavy metal redox reagents. By using soli d polymer electrolytes lion-exchange membranes), even the use of a supporti ng electrolyte can be avoided. Thus, product formation can take place in pu re methanol without any other chemical present. The consumption of resource s can be economized by generating high-value products on both electrodes, a node and cathode (paired electrosynthesis). In certain cases, the same prod uct may be formed on the anode and the cathode (200%-cell). Finally, in ele ctroenzymatic syntheses, two environmentally friendly methods can be combin ed for the regeneration of the cofactors or the prosthetic groups of redox enzymes. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.