Electrochemical regeneration of NADH on a glassy carbon electrode surface: The influence of electrolysis potential

The communication reports a surprising finding on the influence of electrode potential on the percentage of enzymatically active 1,4-NADH produced by reduction of NAD+ in a batch electrochemical reactor, using a glassy carbon electrode. At the lowest cathodic electrolysis potential studied (− 1.4 V vs. MSE), only 32% of 1,4-NADH was found in the product mixture. However, at the highest cathodic electrolysis potential (− 2.3 V vs. MSE), a surprisingly high amount (98%) of 1,4-NADH was produced. The work demonstrates that, a batch electrochemical reactor employing a glassy carbon working electrode operated at high cathodic electrolysis potentials, represents a good candidate system for the regeneration of 1,4-NADH in industrial bioreactors.

Research highlights
► Regeneration of 1,4-NADH from NAD+ on a glassy carbon electrode was performed.
► The influence of electrode potential on the % of produced 1,4-NADH was studied.
► A surprising evidence of the influence of electrode potential was found.
► At the lowest overpotential, 32% of 1,4-NADH in the product mixture was found.
► At the highest overpotential, surprising 98% of 1,4-NADH was produced.