Effective photoinduced hydrogen evolution with hydrogenase in surfactant micelles

Photoinduced hydrogen evolution with hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris (Miyazaki) by the combination of three component system consisting of triethanolamine, zinc-tetraphenylporphyrin tetrasulfonate (ZnTPPS4) and methyl viologen was investigated in cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or non ionic surfactant, Triton X-100 micellar solution by steady state irradiation. The rate of photoreduction of methyl viologen increased by the addition of surfactants, especially CTAB. The back electron transfer reaction from reduced methyl viologen to ZnTnPPS(4) cation radical was strongly suppressed by the addition of various surfactants, especially ionic surfactant CTAB or SDS. The effective hydrogen evolution from reduced methyl viologen with hydrogenase was accomplished in the presence of CTAB or Triton X-100 micelle.