Biohydrogen production by an artificial enzymatic pathway

Abstract

The present invention comprises an in vitro enzymatic process that effectively converts renewable polysaccharides into high yields of hydrogen at mild conditions, using only enzymes and water. The process comprises a number of enzymes: (1) phosphorylases, (2) phosphoglucomutases, (3) hydrogenases, and (4) enzymes involved in the pentose-phosphate pathway. Preferred embodiments of the process produce only hydrogen and carbon dioxide as net products, translating into an inexpensive method of generating hydrogen in very large quantities from low-cost feedstocks.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications

[0002] This application relies on, and claims priority to, U.S. Patent Application 11 / 747,496, filed May 11, 2007, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60 / 799,685, filed May 12, 2006, both of which are hereby incorporated The entire content of is incorporated by reference. technical field

[0003] The invention relates to biotechnology in the fields of agriculture and energy production. More specifically, the present invention relates to the production of hydrogen from renewable polysaccharides by substantially enzymatically catalyzing the polysaccharides into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Background technique

[0004] Climate change and the eventual depletion of the world's fossil fuel reserves threaten sustainable development (Morris, 2006; Hoffert et al., 2002; Farrell et al., 2006). Hydrogen is a mobile energy carrier that is plentiful, clean, and apparently carbon-free. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (20...

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