Section A: Enzyme-Based Biofuel Cells

Evaluating Enzyme Cascades for Methanol/Air Biofuel Cells Based on NAD+-Dependent Enzymes

  1. Paul K. Addo,
  2. Robert L. Arechederra,
  3. Shelley D. Minteer

Article first published online: 24 MAR 2010

DOI: 10.1002/elan.200980009

Issue

Electroanalysis

Electroanalysis

Special Issue: Biofuel Cells

Volume 22, Issue 7-8, pages 807–812, April 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Addo, Paul K., Arechederra, Robert L. and Minteer, Shelley D. (2010), Evaluating Enzyme Cascades for Methanol/Air Biofuel Cells Based on NAD+-Dependent Enzymes. Electroanalysis, 22: 807–812. doi: 10.1002/elan.200980009

Author Information

  1. Department of Chemistry, Saint Louis University, 3501 Laclede Ave. St. Louis, MO 63103, USA

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 1 APR 2010
  2. Article first published online: 24 MAR 2010
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 1 OCT 2009
  4. Manuscript Received: 15 AUG 2009

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Keywords:

  • Biofuel cell;
  • Methanol;
  • Alcohol dehydrogenase;
  • Aldehyde dehydrogenase;
  • Formate dehydrogenase;
  • Fuel cells;
  • Enzymes

Abstract

Previous work by the group has entailed encapsulating enzymes in polymeric micelles at bioelectrode surfaces by utilizing hydrophobically modified Nafion membranes, which are modified in order to eliminate the harsh acidity of Nafion while tailoring the size of the polymer micelles to optimize for the encapsulation of an individual enzyme. This polymer encapsulation has been shown to provide high catalytic activity and enzyme stability. In this study, we employed this encapsulation technique in developing a methanol/air biofuel cell through the combined immobilization of NAD+-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), aldehyde dehydrogenase (AldDH) and formate dehydrogenase (FDH) within a tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) modified Nafion to oxidize methanol to carbon dioxide with poly(methylene green) acting as the NADH electrocatalyst electropolymerized on the surface of the electrode. The methanol biofuel/air cell resulted in a maximum power density of 261±7.6 μW/cm2 and current density of 845±35.5 μA/cm2. This system was characterized for the effects of degree of oxidation, temperature, pH, and concentration of fuel and NAD.

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