Hybrid enzymatic and organic electrocatalytic cascade for the complete oxidation of glycerol

J Am Chem Soc. 2014 Nov 12;136(45):15917-20. doi: 10.1021/ja5098379. Epub 2014 Oct 31.

Abstract

We demonstrate the complete electrochemical oxidation of the biofuel glycerol to CO2 using a hybrid enzymatic and small-molecule catalytic system. Combining an enzyme, oxalate oxidase, and an organic oxidation catalyst, 4-amino-TEMPO, we are able to electrochemically oxidize glycerol at a carbon electrode, while collecting up to as many as 16 electrons per molecule of fuel. Additionally, we investigate the anomalous electrocatalytic properties that allow 4-amino-TEMPO to be active under the acidic conditions that are required for oxalate oxidase to function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biocatalysis*
  • Bioelectric Energy Sources
  • Carbon / chemistry
  • Cyclic N-Oxides / chemistry*
  • Electrochemistry
  • Electrodes
  • Glycerol / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxidoreductases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cyclic N-Oxides
  • 4-amino-TEMPO
  • Carbon
  • Oxidoreductases
  • oxalate oxidase
  • Glycerol