Springer Enzymes for Solving Humankind's Problems: Natural and Artificial Systems in Health, Agriculture, Environment and Energy

This book presents specific key natural and artificial systems that are promising biocatalysts in the areas of health, agriculture, environment and energy. It provides a comprehensive account of the state of the art of these systems and outlines the significant progress made in the last decade using these systems to develop innovative, sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions. Chapters from expert contributors explore how natural enzymes and artificial systems tackle specific targets such as: climate change, carbon footprint and economy and carbon dioxide utilisation; nitrogen footprint and fixation and nitrous oxide mitigation; hydrogen production, fuel cells and energy from bacteria; biomass transformation and production of added-value compounds, as well as biosensors development. This book provides an important and inspiring account for the designing of new natural and artificial systems with enhanced properties, and it appeals not only to students and researchers working in the fields of energy, health, food and environment, but also to a wider audience of educated readers that are interested in these up-to-date and exciting subjects. Chapter “Carbon Dioxide Utilisation―The Formate Route” is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com. From the Back Cover This book presents specific key natural and artificial systems that are promising biocatalysts in the areas of health, agriculture, environment and energy. It provides a comprehensive account of the state of the art of these systems and outlines the significant progress made in the last decade using these systems to develop innovative, sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions. Chapters from expert contributors explore how natural enzymes and artificial systems tackle specific targets such as: climate change, carbon footprint and economy and carbon dioxide utilisation; nitrogen footprint and fixation and nitrous oxide mitigation; hydrogen production, fuel cells and energy from bacteria; biomass transformation and production of added-value compounds, as well as biosensors development. This book provides an important and inspiring account for the designing of new natural and artificial systems with enhanced properties, and it appeals not only to students and researchers working in the fields of energy, health, food and environment, but also to a wider audience of educated readers that are interested in these up-to-date and exciting subjects. Chapter “Carbon Dioxide Utilisation―The Formate Route” is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com. About the Author José J. G. Moura is a Professor at the Department of Chemistry (LAQV, REQUIMTE), NOVA School of Science and Technology (Portugal), and his main research focuses on Bioinorganic Chemistry and the role of metals in Biology. He was previously a Research Specialist at the University of Minnesota (USA) and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Georgia, Athens (USA). He is also the Past President of the Chemistry Department and President of the Scientific Council at NOVA School of Science and Technology, a Portuguese Delegate to COST and INTAS, a member of Scientific Panel in the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and Portuguese National Grant Agency (FCT/MCTES), NST (US) Specialized Panel, and of several scientific editorial boards. In 2006, he was elected member of Academia das Ciências de Lisboa and, in 2010, elected President of the Society of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, for 2 years. He is also Director and Curator of FCT Library. Isabel Moura is a Professor at the Department of Chemistry (LAQV, REQUIMTE), NOVA School of Science and Technology (Portugal), and her main research interests include structure-function of metalloproteins; application of biochemical and spectroscopic tools (NMR, EPR and Mössbauer); proteins i