Photo-enzyme-membrane for ethylene glycol synthesis

Area of Science:

• Biocatalysis and Sustainable Chemistry
• Materials Science for Energy Applications
• Chemical Engineering and Process Intensification

Background:

• Light-driven biocatalytic systems offer sustainable routes for chemical synthesis.
• Efficient cofactor regeneration (e.g., NADH) is crucial for enzymatic processes.
• Membrane technology can enhance mass transfer and energy conversion in catalytic systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a photo-enzyme-membrane (PEM) catalytic system for ethylene glycol (EG) synthesis.
• To utilize solar energy for driving NAD(P)H regeneration and subsequent enzymatic conversion.
• To improve the efficiency and durability of light-driven biocatalytic processes.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a photo-membrane (PM) from covalent organic polymers with bipyridine and sulfonic acid moieties.
• Immobilization of NADH-dependent enzymes onto the PM followed by silica coating to form the PEM.
• Construction of a dual-channel reactor for continuous EG synthesis from methanol.
• Optimization of enzyme-membrane (EM) thickness to mitigate adverse effects on enzyme activity.

Main Results:

• The PM efficiently supplies NADH via synergistic electron and proton transfer.
• The PEM system demonstrated an initial EG synthesis rate of 2.43 mmol g_PEM^-1 h^-1.
• Precise control over EM thickness mitigated negative impacts on enzyme activity, intensifying the process.
• The system enables sustainable synthesis of C2+ chemicals from C1 sources.

Conclusions:

• The developed PEM catalytic system provides an efficient and durable platform for light-driven biocatalysis.
• This approach offers a promising strategy for the sustainable production of value-added chemicals.
• The study highlights the potential of integrated membrane and enzyme technologies in biomanufacturing.