title: Microbial reduction of graphene oxide by Escherichia coli: a green chemistry approach.
abstract: Graphene and graphene related materials are an important area of research in recent years due to their unique properties. The extensive industrial application of graphene and related compounds has led researchers to devise novel and simple methods for the synthesis of high quality graphene. In this paper, we developed an environment friendly, cost effective, simple method and green approaches for the reduction of graphene oxide (GO) using Escherichia coli biomass. In biological method, we can avoid use of toxic and environmentally harmful reducing agents commonly used in the chemical reduction of GO to obtain graphene. The biomass of E. coli reduces exfoliated GO to graphene at 37°C in an aqueous medium. The E. coli reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) was characterized with UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, particle analyzer, high resolution X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Besides the reduction potential, the biomass could also play an important role as stabilizing agent, in which synthesized graphene exhibited good stability in water. This method can open up the new avenue for preparing graphene in cost effective and large scale production. Our findings suggest that GO can be reduced by simple eco-friendly method by using E. coli biomass to produce water dispersible graphene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biotechnology, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-Dong, Gwangin-gu, Seoul 143-701, Republic of Korea. lvsangs@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sangiliyandi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gurunathan
authors.forename: Jae Woong
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Vasuki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Eppakayala
authors.forename: Jin-Hoi
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism*; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology / Q000379:methods*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman
chemical_list: D010087:Oxides; D006108:Graphite