PROPERTIES OF IMMOBILIZED THYLAKOID MEMBRANES IN A PHOTOSYNTHETIC PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELL

Abstract
Abstract— Thylakoid membranes isolated from spinach were immobilized in a cross‐linked albumin‐glutaraldehyde matrix. Their properties in a single‐compartment photoelectrochemical cell using platinum electrodes in potentiostatic mode were compared with the native material. The porous network of the immobilized tissue retained a relatively significant quantity of aqueous media which could be modified at will by aspiration of the proper media. In the presence of the acceptor potassium ferricyanide the photocurrent generation was enhanced up to a value of one hundred times higher than the maximum output of thylakoids entrapped in a polyvinyl alcohol film deposited on a Sn02 electrode. Immobilization in the albumin‐glutaraldehyde matrix resulted in a better resistance to high pH, elevated temperatures and continuous exposure to high light intensity in potentiostatic mode (working conditions) in the electrochemical cell.