Question

in sodium-dependent acetogenesis process, what is the difference between using N2 as an electron donor and CO2 as an electron acceptor, compared to using H2 as an electron donor and CO2 as an electron acceptor.

Answer 1

Acetate will be produced by acetogenic bacterium e.g. Acetobacterium woodii in the presence of H+ from CO2 and Na+.If we replace H+ with N2 then bacterium will require substrate like fructose, formaldehyde and methanol and presence of Na+ (must) for the production of acetate. Oxidation of substrate will takes place in the absence of CO2-H2 system.

Fructose/methanol/formaldehyde + sodium + N2-CO2 will synthesized acetate in the bacteria. However in case of H2-CO2 system presence of Fructose/methanol/formaldehyde was nor required.