Eastern Kentucky University
The Activity of Dehydrogenases in the Presence of the Ionic Liquids 1-Butyl-3- methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate
Institution
Eastern Kentucky University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Martin Brock
Abstract
The abundant uses of fossil fuels are causing depletion in this resource as well as increased amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. The increased amount of CO2 has shown to have an association to global temperatures. The burning of fossil fuels have caused for the development of alternative fuel source. This research is to form a developed method in which cellulose is converted to ethanol from switchgrass. However, enzymes are unable to perform at elevated temperatures. The discovery of thermophiles has shown that enzymes are able to perform at elevated temperatures. The aim of this research is to collect data for these enzymes, specifically malate dehydrogenase (and other dehydrogenases), and understand the stability of thermophillic bacteria in order to apply this information to cellulase. In conjunction, the concentration at which ionic liquids start to affect the activity of the malate dehydrogenase was researched and will be presented.
The Activity of Dehydrogenases in the Presence of the Ionic Liquids 1-Butyl-3- methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate
The abundant uses of fossil fuels are causing depletion in this resource as well as increased amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. The increased amount of CO2 has shown to have an association to global temperatures. The burning of fossil fuels have caused for the development of alternative fuel source. This research is to form a developed method in which cellulose is converted to ethanol from switchgrass. However, enzymes are unable to perform at elevated temperatures. The discovery of thermophiles has shown that enzymes are able to perform at elevated temperatures. The aim of this research is to collect data for these enzymes, specifically malate dehydrogenase (and other dehydrogenases), and understand the stability of thermophillic bacteria in order to apply this information to cellulase. In conjunction, the concentration at which ionic liquids start to affect the activity of the malate dehydrogenase was researched and will be presented.