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Photo-production of hydrogen by nitrogenase


​​​​​We are studying the photo-production of hydrogen. This production is catalyzed by the nitrogenase, a metalloenzyme complex that reduces atmo​spheric nitrogen into ammonia and hydrogen. Moreover, in the absence of molecular nitrogen, nitrogenase continues to reduce protons in H2 and​ acts, in some way, as a hydrogenase. Rhodobacter capsulatus bacterium used by these researchers is able of catalyzing the photolysis of a wide range of simple organic compounds and to convert them into hydrogen, suggesting applications in the clean-up and conversion of organic waste from agrobusiness.​

Published on 15 September 2008

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Culture of Rhodobacter capsulatus producing H2 from lactic acid. The biogas produced, which contains about 95% H2 and 5% CO2, goes directly into a fuel cell.


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