Investigating the Electrogenesis of Methylobacterium Radiotolerans : Using Bacteria to Conduct Electricity - Bioelectrocatalysis

Abstract

Electrochemistry is the study of reduction and oxidation chemical (redox) reactions. Electrodes are used in various solutions and a current is run through them. Changes in the current are then measured and graphed producing a cyclic voltammogram (CV). Each CV reflects the redox progression and graphs them as the oxidation on top and reduction on the bottom. Methylobacterium radiotolerans are a species of bacteria known to conduct redox chemistry of methanol within their active site Ca+2 or other rare earth metals (La3+) as a catalytic cofactor. These cyclic voltammograms are identifiable by their characteristic “duck” shape Our group aims to investigate the effects of different types of glassy carbon (GC) electrode polymerization on the redox of methanol using M. radiotolerans. Further investigation into this type of biocatalytic activity will be used to further the development of biofuel cells (BFC), a promising technology in the face of climate change.