Premium
Non‐enzymatic palladium recovery on microbial and synthetic surfaces
Author(s) -
Rotaru AmeliaElena,
Jiang Wei,
Finster Kai,
Skrydstrup Troels,
Meyer Rikke Louise
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.24500
Subject(s) - amine gas treating , chemistry , formate , pseudomonas putida , shewanella oneidensis , bovine serum albumin , enzyme , bacteria , combinatorial chemistry , biochemistry , organic chemistry , catalysis , biology , genetics
The use of microorganisms as support for reduction of dissolved Pd(II) to immobilized Pd(0) nanoparticles is an environmentally friendly approach for Pd recovery from waste. To better understand and engineer Pd(0) nanoparticle synthesis, one has to consider the mechanisms by which Pd(II) is reduced on microbial surfaces. Escherichia coli , Shewanella oneidensis , and Pseudomonas putida were used as model organisms in order to elucidate the role of microbial cells in Pd(II) reduction under acidic conditions. Pd(II) was reduced by formate under acidic conditions, and the process occurred substantially faster in the presence of cells as compared to cell‐free controls. We found no difference between native (untreated) and autoclaved cells, and could demonstrate that even a non‐enzymatic protein (bovine serum albumin) stimulated Pd(II) reduction as efficiently as bacterial cells. Amine groups readily interact with Pd(II), and to specifically test their role in surface‐assisted Pd(II) reduction by formate, we replaced bacterial cells with polystyrene microparticles functionalized with amine or carboxyl groups. Amine‐functionalized microparticles had the same effect on Pd(II) reduction as bacterial cells, and the effect could be hampered if the amine groups were blocked by acetylation. The interaction with amine groups was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy on whole cells and amine‐functionalized microparticles. In conclusion, bio‐supported Pd(II) reduction on microbial surfaces is possibly mediated by a non‐enzymatic mechanism. We therefore suggest the use of amine‐rich biomaterials rather than intact cells for Pd bio‐recovery from waste. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109:1889–1897. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.