Enzymatic Biofuel Cell
for Oxidation of Glucose to
CO<sub>2</sub>
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Abstract
Glucose has been widely studied as a fuel in biofuel
cells because
it not only is abundant in nature and in the bloodstream but also
demonstrates low volatility, is nontoxic, and is inexpensive. Those
qualities coupled with its relatively high energy density qualify
glucose as a promising fuel. However, one key to efficient use of
this substrate as fuel is the ability to oxidize glucose to CO<sub>2</sub> and convert, more efficiently, the chemical energy released upon
the redox reactions to electrical power. Most glucose biofuel cells
in literature only oxidize glucose to gluconolactone. In this paper,
we report the development of a six-enzyme cascade bioanode containing
pyrroloquinoline quinone-dependent enzymes extracted from Gluconobacter sp., aldolase from Sulfolobus
solfataricus and oxalate oxidase from barley to sequentially
oxidize glucose to carbon dioxide through a synthetic minimal metabolic
pathway. This bioanode is also capable of performing direct electron
transfer to carbon electrode surfaces and eliminates the need for
mediators