Human Urine-Fueled Light-Driven NADH Regeneration for Redox Biocatalysis

Human urine is considered as an alternative source of hydrogen and electricity owing to its abundance and high energy density. Here we show the utility of human urine as a chemical fuel for driving redox biocatalysis in a photoelectrochemical cell. Ni(OH)2‐modified α‐Fe2O3 is selected as a photoanod...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ChemSusChem 2016-07, Vol.9 (13), p.1559-1564
Main Authors: Choi, Woo Seok, Lee, Sahng Ha, Ko, Jong Wan, Park, Chan Beum
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biocatalysis
Chemical fuels
Electrochemistry
human urine
Humans
Light
NAD - chemistry
NAD - metabolism
NADH
NADH regeneration
Nicotinamide
Oxidation
Oxidation-Reduction
Photocathodes
Photochemical Processes
photoelectrochemical cell
Photoelectrochemical devices
Regeneration
solar energy
Urine
Urine - chemistry
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Summary:Human urine is considered as an alternative source of hydrogen and electricity owing to its abundance and high energy density. Here we show the utility of human urine as a chemical fuel for driving redox biocatalysis in a photoelectrochemical cell. Ni(OH)2‐modified α‐Fe2O3 is selected as a photoanode for the oxidation of urea in human urine and black silicon (bSi) is used as a photocathode material for nicotinamide cofactor (NADH: hydrogenated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) regeneration. The electrons extracted from human urine are used for the regeneration of NADH, an essential hydride mediator that is required for numerous redox biocatalytic reactions. The catalytic reactions at both the photoanode and the photocathode were significantly enhanced by light energy that lowered the overpotential and generated high currents in the full cell system. From waste to valuables: Human urine is studied as a potential source of energy for light‐driven biocatalytic redox reactions. The urea‐rich human urine functions as an efficient chemical fuel in a photoelectrochemical cell regenerating nicotinamide cofactor (NADH), which is essential in redox biocatalysis. The reactions at both photoanode and photocathode are significantly enhanced by light energy, lowering the overpotential required for both urea oxidation and NADH regeneration.
ISSN:1864-5631
1864-564X
DOI:10.1002/cssc.201600330