Heterogeneous Photosynthetic Production of Amino Acids at Pt/TiO2 Suspensions by Near Ultraviolet Light

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00413a020

Studies of the previously reported production of amino acids (glycine, alanine, serine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid) from methane, ammonia, and water in contact with irradiated suspensions of Pt/TiO2 were extended.Products were analyzed by LC, HPLC, and coupled GC/mass spectroscopy.Analysis of product mixtures also shows the presence of MeOH, EtOH, and CH3NH2 as products of the photoprocess.Experiments with nitrogen-15 labeled ammonia showed that the nitrogen in the amino acids originated with the NH3 rather than from contaminants.Amino acids were also produced from the CH4-NH3-H2O mixture during decomposition of hydrogen peroxide at Pt foil.A mechanism for the reaction based on free-radical reactions initiated by hydroxyl radical produced at the irradiated catalyst is proposed.