Biomimetic and microbial reduction of nitric oxide

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:150459

Potter, W T; Le, U; Ronda, S ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Tulsa, OK (United States); and others

The biomimetic reduction of nitric oxide (NO) to nitrous oxide (N{sub 2}O) by dithiothreitol in the presence of cyanocobalamin and cobalt-centered porphyrins has been investigated. Reactions were monitored directly using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy vapor-phase spectra. Reaction rates were twofold faster for the corrin than for the cobalt-centered porphyrins. The stoichiometry showed the loss of two molecules of NO per molecule of N{sub 2}O produced. We have also demonstrated that the facultative anaerobe and chemoautotroph, Thiobacillus denitrificans, can be cultured anoxically in batch reactors using NO as a terminal electron acceptor with reduction to elemental nitrogen (N{sub 2}). We have proposed that the concentrated stream of NO{sub x}, as obtained from certain regenerable processes for the gas desulfurization and NO{sub x} removal, could be converted to N{sub 2} for disposal by contact with a culture of T. denitrificans. Four heterotrophic bacteria have also been identified that may be grown in batch cultures with succinate, yeast extract, or heat and alkali pretreated sewage sludge as carbon and energy sources and NO as a terminal electron acceptor. These are Paracoccus dentrificans, Pseudomonas denitrificans, Alcaligens denitrificans, and Thiophaera pantotropha.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
• OSTI ID: 150459
• Report Number(s): CONF-940526--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
BACTERIA
BATCH CULTURE
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIODEGRADATION
BIOMIMETIC PROCESSES
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
COBALT COMPLEXES
DENITRIFICATION
FOURIER TRANSFORM SPECTROMETERS
NITRIC OXIDE
PORPHYRINS
SEWAGE SLUDGE
STOICHIOMETRY
VITAMIN B-12