title: Applications of bacterial hydrogenases in waste decontamination, manufacture of novel bionanocatalysts and in sustainable energy.
abstract: Bacterial hydrogenases have been harnessed to the removal of heavy metals from solution by reduction to less soluble metal species. For Pd(II), its bioreduction results in the deposition of cell-bound Pd(0)-nanoparticles that are ferromagnetic and have a high catalytic activity. Hydrogenases can also be used synthetically in the production of hydrogen from sugary wastes through breakdown of formate produced by fermentation. The Bio-H(2) produced can be used to power an electrical device using a fuel cell to provide clean electricity. Production of hydrogen from confectionery wastes by one organism (Escherichia coli) can be used as the electron donor for the production of Bio-Pd(0) from soluble Pd(II) by a second organism. The resulting Bio-Pd(0) can then be used as a bioinorganic catalyst in the remediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated solutions or polychlorinated biphenyls at the expense of Bio-H(2), as a hydrogenation catalyst for industry or as a component of a fuel cell electrode.
authors.affiliation: School of Biosciences, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. L.E.Macaskie@bham.ac.uk
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Macaskie
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Baxter-Plant
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Creamer
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Humphries
authors.forename: I P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Mikheenko
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mikheenko
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Penfold
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yong
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002384:Catalysis; D003901:Desulfovibrio / Q000201:enzymology*; D006864:Hydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010165:Palladium / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010165:Palladium; D006864:Hydrogenase