Microbial synthesis of metallic molybdenum nanoparticles

The production of nanoparticles through biosynthesis is a reliable, non-toxic, and sustainable alternative to conventional chemical and physical methods of production. While noble metals, such as palladium, gold, and silver, have been formed via bioreduction, biologically-induced reduction of electroactive elements to a metallic state has not been reported previously. Herein, we report the reduction of an electroactive element, molybdenum, via microbial reduction using Clostridium pasteurianum. C. pasteurianum was able to reduce 88% of the added Mo⁶⁺ ions. The bioreduced molybdenum was shown to be metallically bonded in a prototypical crystal structure with an average particle size of 15 nm. C. pasteurianum was previously shown to degrade azo dyes using in situ formed Pd nanoparticles, but this study shows that in situ formed Mo particles also act as catalysts for degradation of azo dyes. C. pasteurianum cultures with the bioformed Mo nanoparticles were able completely degrade 155 μM methyl orange within 6 min, while controls with no Mo took 36 min. This research demonstrates, for the first time, that the bioreduction of active elements and formation of catalytic particles is achievable.