Carbon monoxide conversion to formate by Methanosarcina barkeri

Abstract

A preliminary study of formate production from CO plus H2O using the intact cells of Methanosarcina barkeri was conducted. Formate production from CO gas required the participation of three enzymes, CO dehydrogenase, hydrogenase and formate dehydrogenase. Hypophosphite inhibited formate formation from CO plus H2O by about 80%. In this system, 9 g/l of formate could be obtained from CO gas after 48 h of incubation at 37°C, pH 8.0. © 1985 Kluwer Academic Publishers.