13C-Labeling the carbon-fixation pathway of a highly efficient artificial photosynthetic system. (15th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Chong; Nangle, Shannon N.; Colón, Brendan C.; Silver, Pamela A.; Nocera, Daniel G.
• Is Part Of: Faraday discussions. Volume 198(2017)
• Page Start: 529
• Page End: 537
• Publication Date: 2017-03-15
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; Metallurgy -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1039/c6fd00231e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-6640

Abstract

Abstract : Interfacing the CO2 -fixing microorganism, Ralstonia eutropha, to the energy derived from hydrogen produced by water splitting is a viable approach to achieving renewable CO2 reduction at high efficiencies. We employ 13 C-labeling to report on the nature of CO2 reduction in the inorganic water splitting| R. eutropha hybrid system. Accumulated biomass in a reactor under a 13 C-enriched CO2 atmosphere may be sampled at different time points during CO2 reduction. Converting the sampled biomass into gaseous CO2 allows the 13 C/ 12 C ratio to be determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. After 2 hours of inoculation and the initiation of water splitting, the microbes adapted and began to convert CO2 into biomass. The observed time evolution of the 13 C/ 12 C ratio in accumulated biomass is consistent with a Monod model for carbon fixation. Carbon dioxide produced by catabolism was found to be minimal. This rapid response of the bacteria to a hydrogen input and to subsequent CO2 reduction at high efficiency are beneficial to achieving artificial photosynthesis for the storage of renewable energy.