Volume 198, 2017

13C-Labeling the carbon-fixation pathway of a highly efficient artificial photosynthetic system

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 13C-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 13C-enriched CO2 atmosphere may be sampled at different time points during CO2 reduction. Converting the sampled biomass into gaseous CO2 allows the 13C/12C 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 13C/12C 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.

Associated articles

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 nov 2016
Accepted
22 nov 2016
First published
22 nov 2016

Faraday Discuss., 2017,198, 529-537

13C-Labeling the carbon-fixation pathway of a highly efficient artificial photosynthetic system

C. Liu, S. N. Nangle, B. C. Colón, P. A. Silver and D. G. Nocera, Faraday Discuss., 2017, 198, 529 DOI: 10.1039/C6FD00231E

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