Enzyme Catalyzed Oxidation of Hydrocarbons

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method of generating electricity from a long chain hydrocarbon, said method comprising contacting the liquid non-polar substrate with a plurality of enzymes, wherein at least one enzyme is non-electric current/potential enzyme that functions as a catalyst for chemical reaction transforming a first substrate or byproduct to a second substance that can be used with an additional electric current/potential generating enzyme.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An aqueous based electrically conductive ink comprising:
 a. a nano-scale conducting material;   b. a binding agent; and   c. an enzyme.   
     
     
         2 . The ink of  claim 8  wherein the binding agent is selected from the group consisting of poly[α-(4-aminobutyl)-L-glycolic acid], polyesters, poly(4-hydroxy-1-proline ester), poly(β-aminoesters), poly-(L-lactide-co-L-lysine), poly(amidoamine) dendrimers, poly(serine ester), poly(lysine), lypopolyamines, polybrene, DEAE-dextran, polyamine and polyamidoamine. 
     
     
         3 . The ink of  claim 8  wherein the binding agent is selected from the group consisting of chitosan, polyarylene ether with quaternary ammonium salts, Lead selenide (PbSe), polybidphenol A-co-epichlorohydrin (BAEH), polystyrene-b-polyethylene oxide, polyethyleneoxide, polysulfones and Nafion. 
     
     
         4 . The ink of  claim 8  further comprising at least one of a mediator, a cross-linking agent and a substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The ink of  claim 8  wherein said nano-scale conducting material comprises a carbon nanotube. 
     
     
         6 . The ink of  claim 8  wherein after drying, said ink is in a water insoluble second form, said second form comprising a nano-scale conducting material, a binding agent and an enzyme. 
     
     
         7 . The ink of  claim 11  wherein the substrate is non-polar. 
     
     
         8 . The ink of claim  14  wherein the non-polar substrate is selected from the group consisting of JP-8 fuel, JP-5 fuel, JP-4 fuel, diesel fuel, propane, hexane, octane, methane and butane. 
     
     
         9 . An electrode comprising:
 a. an electrically conductive ink deposited on said electrode, said ink comprising:
 i. a nano-scale conducting material; 
 ii. a binding agent; and 
 iii. an enzyme. 
   
     
     
         10 . The ink of claim  16  wherein the binding agent is selected from the group consisting of poly[α-(4-aminobutyl)-L-glycolic acid], polyesters, poly(4-hydroxy-1-proline ester), poly(β-aminoesters), poly-(L-lactide-co-L-lysine), poly(amidoamine) dendrimers, poly(serine ester), poly(lysine), lypopolyamines, polybrene, DEAE-dextran and polyamidoamine. 
     
     
         11 . The ink of claim  16  wherein the binding agent is selected from the group consisting of chitosan, polyarylene ether with quaternary ammonium salts, Lead selenide (PBSE), polybidphenol A-co-epichlorohydrin (BAEH), polystyrene-b-polyethylene oxide, polyethyleneoxide, polysulfones and nafion. 
     
     
         12 . The ink of claim  16  further comprising at least one of a mediator, a cross-linking agent and a substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The ink of claim  19  wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of JP-8 fuel, JP-5 fuel, JP-4 fuel, diesel fuel, propane, hexane, octane, methane and butane.