The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Enzymes inspired a different way to design catalysts for hydrogen production: divide the chemistry between two specialized components and connect them so electrons can move from one to the other. In a 2009 report, carbon monoxide dehydrogenase and [NiFe]-hydrogenase were linked by tiny graphite particles. The result demonstrated a modular research concept—not a commercially ready replacement for industrial catalysts.
What reaction was the enzyme system designed to perform?
The system was built around the water-gas shift reaction, which uses carbon monoxide and water to produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Chemistry World reported in 2009 that industry had used this reaction since the 1940s.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
HydroCell Kit For Truck | $235.68 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Maisutseb 99.999% Laboratory Electrolysis Hydrogen Generator Maker Use with Gas Chromatograph | $669.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies Solar Hydrogen Education Kit | $115.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
HydroCell Plus | $174.63 | Buy on Amazon |
Rather than relying on one catalyst to handle the linked chemistry, the reported design assigned different jobs to two bacterial enzymes. Each enzyme was attached to small graphite particles, which provided an electrically conductive connection between them.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsHow did the two enzymes make hydrogen?
Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase supplied electrons
Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase catalysed the conversion that produces carbon dioxide and releases electrons. Those electrons were needed for the hydrogen-producing step.
#1 Best Overall
- Complete kit for gas carburetor engine Cell produces 2.25 LPM at 30 amps
- 1 quart reservoir/bubblier last 1000 miles measures 6"x5"x4" Up To small V8
- Includes PDF copy of our new book Converted. We Work With All Members To Get Them Results
- Converted is the must have PDF for HHO education. Includes installation manuals along with our vehicle database
- Vehicle database shows all cars we/members have installed on, with their MPG results and how acheived
Graphite transferred the electrons
The tiny graphite particles acted as a conductive support, carrying electrons between the two enzyme components. They connected the reaction steps electrically rather than serving as a third enzyme.
[NiFe]-hydrogenase produced hydrogen
The [NiFe]-hydrogenase used the transferred electrons to convert hydrogen ions into hydrogen gas. In this arrangement, the enzymes had distinct roles: one generated electrons as carbon dioxide formed, and the other consumed those electrons to make hydrogen.
Rank #2
- 【Simple operation】 The lab tool is easy to operate, only need to turn on the switch to produce hydrogen gas. During normal use, the machine only needs to be replenished with distilled water, and can be used continuously or disconnected.
- 【Product Features】 The Laboratory Equipment has the advantages of large electrolysis area, low pool temperature, large hydrogen production and high purity. Therefore, it replaces the high-pressure cylinder as a laboratory instrument.
- 【Display flow rate】 The pressure of released hydrogen is stable, LED real-time display flow rate, the work can be visualized operation.Can be used with various gas chromatographs.
- 【Parameters】 Output specification: 99.999%.The output flow: 0-300ml/min.
- 【Avoid fluid return】 The electrolysis hydrogen generator is equipped with a special device to prevent the return of liquid, which effectively ensures that the instrument will not return liquid during operation.
What was notable about the reported operating conditions?
The 2009 report said the enzyme system operated under ambient conditions, in contrast with industrial water-gas shift catalysts that it described as operating at around 200°C. That contrast is useful for understanding the design idea, but it is not a like-for-like comparison of commercial performance: the enzyme assembly was a research concept, not an industrial catalyst tested at production scale.
The report also discussed catalytic activity, with the comparison calculated from the less active hydrogenase component. It did not provide a numerical turnover frequency in the retrieved text, so no specific rate or efficiency can be inferred from that account.
Rank #3
- Horizon puts renewable energy technology into the hands of our future scientists
- Solar Hydrogen Education Kit generates clean energy using the sun
- Renewable hydrogen is created using only solar energy and water
- Combining cutting-edge science, education and fun for all!
- Includes fuel cell, small electric motor, propeller blade, experiment manual and assembly guide
Why did researchers see a design lesson rather than an industrial replacement?
The enzymes were described as too fragile for industrial scale-up. The value of the work was instead its modular architecture: separate the reaction into two catalytic tasks, then couple the components through an electron-conducting material. That approach suggests a way to design synthetic catalysts in which specialized sites perform linked steps.
Fraser Armstrong of the University of Oxford said, “Enzymes can catalyse reactions at orders of magnitude faster than anything that we have at the moment – they set a target for what catalysts really ought to be like.” He also said, “The value of the paper is in telling industry to re-think the whole thing.”
Rank #4
Frédéric Meunier, a water-gas-shift expert at ENSICAEN, described the architecture this way: “The authors have designed here a "two-site" system, each of those having a well defined role,”
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
The design still raises practical engineering questions. Chandra Ratnasamy, a water-gas-shift researcher at Süd-Chemie, noted: “Based on the strategy outlined in the paper a synthetic catalyst could be developed, however, to scale up would not be straightforward as it would involve a number of factors including balancing the rates of the two independent half reactions,” Matching the rates matters because the two linked catalytic steps must work together for the overall process to proceed effectively.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What does the 2009 report establish—and what does it not?
Hayley Bennett’s Chemistry World report, published on 21 September 2009, described an enzyme-based demonstration and its potential as inspiration for catalyst architecture. It does not establish that the system was commercially available, ready for industrial deployment, or superior to industrial catalysts in overall production performance.
The report references O. Lazarus et al. in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (2009), DOI 10.1021/ja905797w. The details here follow the contemporaneous Chemistry World account.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
