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Enzymatic Bioelectrosynthetic Ammonia Production: Recent Electrochemistry of Nitrogenase, Nitrate Reductase, and Nitrite Reductase
Author(s) -
Milton Ross D.,
Minteer Shelley D.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chempluschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.801
H-Index - 61
ISSN - 2192-6506
DOI - 10.1002/cplu.201600442
Subject(s) - nitrate reductase , nitrite reductase , chemistry , nitrate , ammonia production , nitrogenase , nitrite , ammonia , nitrogen cycle , electrochemistry , biogeochemical cycle , environmental chemistry , nitrogen , inorganic chemistry , biochemistry , nitrogen fixation , organic chemistry , electrode
Abstract As an essential component of amino acids and nucleic acids, nitrogen (N) is a key element of life. For atmospheric (dinitrogen, N 2 ) and environmental (nitrate and nitrite, NO 3 − and NO 2 − ) sources of N to be utilized in amino acid synthesis in various forms of life, it must first be reduced to ammonia (NH 3 ). The Haber–Bosch process, in which N 2 is reduced to NH 3 at elevated temperature and pressure, represents a major NH 3 production process that has had a great impact on the agricultural crop industry. This Minireview discusses the recent electrochemistry of three key enzymes of the global biogeochemical N cycle (nitrogenase, nitrate reductase, and nitrite reductase), in view of moving toward the creation of alternative NH 3 production biotechnologies.