Catalytic cooperativity between glucose oxidase and gold nanoparticles in the sequential oxidation of glucose to saccharic acid

• Published in: Green chemistry : an international journal and green chemistry resource : GC Vol. 24; no. 13; pp. 5162 - 517
• Main Authors: Brindle, Joseph S, Nelson, Patrick S, Charde, Rashmi P, Sufyan, Sayed Abu, Nigra, Michael M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 04.07.2022
• Subjects: Acids; Ambient temperature; Catalysts; Catalytic converters; Enzyme activity; Glucaric acid; Gluconic acid; Glucose; Glucose oxidase; Gold; Green chemistry; Hydrogen peroxide; Nanoparticles; Nitric acid; Oxidants; Oxidation; Oxidizing agents
• ISSN: 1463-9262; 1463-9270
• DOI: 10.1039/d1gc03453g

There exists great potential in combining heterogeneous metallic nanoparticle active sites and enzymatic active sites for sequentially catalysed chemical transformations. This study provides an illustrative system where glucose oxidase and gold nanoparticles are successfully combined into a hybrid catalytic material. This multi-site catalyst is used to convert glucose to a more valuable saccharic acid product without the need for a strong oxidant such as H 2 O 2 , hypochlorite, or nitric acid to be externally added. We synthesise a hybrid material that is able to oxidise glucose to gluconic acid and H 2 O 2 with glucose oxidase, and gold catalyses the further oxidation to saccharic acid. The in situ generation of H 2 O 2 provides a proximal, dilute oxidizing agent for further oxidation. It is observed that higher pH promotes H 2 O 2 decomposition and saccharic acid generation catalysed by the gold nanoparticles. A 33% yield of saccharic acid in 90 minutes is observed without the addition of nitric acid, harsh oxidants, above ambient temperatures, or high oxygen pressures. The results demonstrate a cooperative reaction cascade system that opens new possibilities for metal nanoparticle-enzyme hybrid materials that can be applied to catalytic biomass conversion in mild reaction conditions. A hybrid glucose oxidase-gold nanoparticle catalyst demonstrates sequential oxidation of glucose to saccharic acid without adding a strong oxidant.