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Energy Conversion Based on Bio(electro)catalysts

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Springer Handbook of Electrochemical Energy

Part of the book series: Springer Handbooks ((SHB))

Abstract

Redox enzymes can be efficiently coupled with an electrode surface giving prospect of highly efficient and selective bio(electrochemical) transformations for energy conversion and/or production of commodities or fine chemicals. One example is glucose oxidase that immobilized on the electrode surface and in the presence of glucose and oxygen reduction cathode generates electricity and D-glucono-1,5-lactone with applications in different industries. Other examples might comprise whole enzymatic cascades performing complex sequences of biochemical reactions, turning, for example, such inert and environmentally polluting substances (like CO2) into useful commodities (e. g., methanol). These processes have a significant potential for development of new enzyme-based production systems, with electrochemistry playing an important role, especially regarding electrochemical regeneration of redox enzymes (redox cofactors). Although the electrochemical regeneration is feasible, its efficiency is still too low to be considered competitive for industrial applications. In this contribution we consider some important aspects of electrochemical regeneration of enzymes and common co-factors. At first, working principles of two typical representatives of bioelectrochemical systems will be described, followed by a short discussion of so-called cell free systems and their relationship to bioelectrochemical systems. For practical development of bioelectrochemical systems, the thermodynamics of related processes as well as kinetics are important. We give some examples of enzymes showing reversible electrode behavior, as an inspiration. Mathematical modeling will play a significant role in the design and optimization of bioelectrochemical systems. For this reason, we show how nonlinear mathematical models for studying the kinetics ofenzymatic processes can be developed. Finally, we discuss some practical aspects of biotransformation with redox enzymes, including examples of electron transfer mechanisms, enzyme adaptation on process conditions, development of electrodes etc.

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Abbreviations

ADH:

alcohol dehydrogenase

ATP:

adenosine triphosphate

BV:

Butler–Volmer

CNT:

carbon nanotube

CTC:

charge transfer complex

DET:

direct electron transfer

Df:

desulfovibrio fructosovorans

DNA:

deoxyribonucleic acid

EIS:

electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

ES:

enzyme substrate

FAD:

flavin adenine dinucleotide

FMN:

flavin mononucleotide

GC:

glassy carbon

GDH:

glucose dehydrogenase

GOx:

glucose oxidase

HRP:

horseradish peroxidase

MET:

mediated electron transfer

MWCNT:

multiwall carbon nanotube

NADH:

reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide

NAD:

nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide

OCP:

open circuit potential

PQQ:

pyrroloquinoline quinone

RDE:

rotating-disk electrode

SHE:

standard hydrogen electrode

SWCNT:

single wall carbon nanotube

TCNQ:

tetracyanoquinodimethan

TTF:

tetrathiafulvalane

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Process Systems Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstr. 1, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany

    Tanja Vidaković-Koch

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  1. Tanja Vidaković-Koch
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Mechanical Engineering, TU Dresden, Helmholtzstr. 14, 01062, Dresden, Germany

    Cornelia Breitkopf

  2. Chemistry Division, US Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave., DC 20375, Washington, USA

    Karen Swider-Lyons

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Vidaković-Koch, T. (2017). Energy Conversion Based on Bio(electro)catalysts. In: Breitkopf, C., Swider-Lyons, K. (eds) Springer Handbook of Electrochemical Energy. Springer Handbooks. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-46657-5_23

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