biocatalyst
nounUK /ˌbaɪəʊˈkætəlɪst/
US /ˌbaɪoʊˈkætəlɪst/
A biocatalyst is a natural helper that makes a chemical change happen faster.
The enzyme in your saliva acts as a biocatalyst that starts breaking down bread.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A living organism, such as a bacterium or yeast, used in industry to speed up chemical reactions.
The factory uses a biocatalyst to turn sugar into fuel.
3. Any substance produced by a living thing that speeds up a chemical reaction without being used up.
Researchers added a biocatalyst to the mixture to make the process faster.
4. A natural agent used in green chemistry to replace harsh chemical catalysts.
Switching to a biocatalyst made the manufacturing process cleaner.