Synthesis and Characterization of Rubisco–Magnesium Complexes for Potential Gas Adsorption Applications

TL;DR

This paper explores using the enzyme RuBisCO with magnesium to create hybrid materials that can adsorb gases like CO2 under mild conditions.

Contribution

The novel use of RuBisCO and magnesium to form hybrid porous matrices for gas adsorption is introduced.

Findings

Metal–enzyme complexes with defined porosity and size were successfully synthesized.

Gas adsorption tests showed measurable uptake of N2 and CO2.

Crystal lattice formation was observed through particle diffraction studies.

Abstract

Enzyme-based complexes represent an emerging class of
functional
adsorbents combining specificity and environmentally friendly potential.
We proposed the development of metal-enzyme-based complexes that leverage
the unique properties of magnesium metal to increase enzyme-structure
integration for the formation of hybrid porous matrices with the potential
to modulate targeted gas adsorption under mild conditions. For this,
ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase (RuBisCO), a carboxyl-lyase
responsible for carbon fixation in the Calvin–Benson–Bassham
cycle, was used as a scaffold that supported stable coordination of
its amino acids, water, and/or phosphate groups with magnesium ions.
Time- and dose-dependent synthesis and characterization of the resulting
metal–enzyme complexes, performed through electron microscopy,
infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, unraveled the high-resolution
structure formation. Magnesium integration led to crystal lattice
formation, resulting in complexes of defined porosity and size, as
evaluated through particle diffraction studies helping connect metal–enzyme
synthesis time and ratio with the observed physicochemical properties.
Preliminary gas adsorption testing with N2 and CO2 conducted using both physisorption and static chemisorption methods
demonstrated that the metal–enzyme complexes exhibit measurable
gas uptake behavior, thus indicating potential for gas interaction
and adsorption under controlled conditions. These findings lay the
groundwork for further exploration of metal–enzyme hybrids
as tunable, bio-inspired materials for gas adsorption, with future
studies needed to optimize performance and assess such complexes potential
in real-world applications.

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