Key result
Urease-catalyzed urea hydrolysis generated up to 0.81 MPa of CO2 within 18 minutes, producing a maximum work density of 0.65 J/ml to power a rubber muscle actuator.
A biologically inspired pneumatic pressure source using enzyme-catalyzed urea hydrolysis can generate sufficient CO2 pressure to power a rubber muscle actuator.
A biologically inspired pneumatic pressure source was designed and sized to supply high pressure CO 2(g) to power a rubber muscle actuator. The enzyme urease served to catalyze the hydrolysis of urea, producing CO 2(g) that flowed into the actuator. The actuator's power envelope was quantified by testing actuator response on a custom-built linear-motion rig. Reaction kinetics and available work density were determined by replacing the actuator with a double-action piston and measuring volumetric gas generation against a fixed pressure on the opposing piston. Under the conditions investigated, urease catalyzed the generation of up to 0.81 MPa (117 psi) of CO 2(g) in the reactor headspace within 18 min, and the evolved gas produced a maximum work density of 0.65 J ml −1 .
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Sutter et al. (2013) studied this question. Enzyme-catalyzed urea hydrolysis was evaluated on Generation of CO2(g) pressure and work density. Urease-catalyzed urea hydrolysis generated up to 0.81 MPa of CO2 within 18 minutes, producing a maximum work density of 0.65 J/ml to power a rubber muscle actuator.
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