Jakarta – Scientists recently discovered an enzyme that can convert air into energy. Experts discovered the enzyme through a bacterial cousin that triggers tuberculosis and leprosy.
Reported from detikEdu, the enzyme found is said to be able to convert hydrogen into electricity. With this discovery, the potential for new energy sources is wide open.
Scientists say the enzyme could be used to create a new, clean source of energy from thin air. Actually this has been known for a long time, but scientists now know the process.
The enzyme is named Huc and utilized by a bacterium called Mycobacterium Smegmatis to draw energy from atmospheric hydrogen. With this process, these bacteria are able to survive in extreme environments and lack of nutrients.
Researchers Find New Energy Sources
From the extraction and analysis carried out using these enzymes, the researchers managed to find a new energy source that could be used to power a variety of small portable electrical devices.
The discovery of the Huc enzyme was published in the journal Nature on March 8, 2023.
“We envision that a power source containing Huc could power a variety of small portable devices using the air, including biometric sensors, environmental monitors, digital clocks, and calculators or simple computers,” lead author Rhys Griinter told Live Sciencequoted Thursday (9/3/2023).
Griinter explained, when the Huc enzyme was given a lot of concentrated hydrogen, more electricity was generated. Thus, these enzymes can be used in fuel cells for more complex devices, such as smart watches, smart phones, portable computers, and possibly even cars.
How Can Generate Electricity?
M smegmatis is a fast growing nonpathogenic bacterium. Scientists use this bacterium to study the cell wall structure of its close disease-causing relative, Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Generally, M smegmatis can be found in soils all over the world. From the research carried out by scientists, they found that the Huc enzyme has a structure known as an active site that contains ions containing nickel and iron.
When hydrogen molecules consisting of two protons and two electrons enter the active site, they will be trapped between the nickel and iron ions and lose their electrons. Next, the enzyme sends the electrons together in a flowing stream to produce an electric current.
“If we immobilize Huc at the electrodes, electrons can enter the electrical circuit from the surface of the enzyme and generate a current,” says Griinter.
“Huc can extract energy from the hydrogen in the air, which is effectively unlimited,” he added.
Furthermore, Griinter says the amount of electricity that can be generated from a low concentration of hydrogen is quite modest. As such, it will limit the applicability of Huc to devices that require small but sustained amounts of power.
Nevertheless, on the other hand the use of the Huc enzyme can function as a complement in fuel cells in which there is a higher hydrogen concentration.
Watch Video “British Scientists Experiment to Create ‘Plastic-Eating’ Enzymes“
(urw/sar)
