The chemistry for the conversion of NOx: from synthetic enzymes to molecular models

As a cost of civilization, the massive usage of nitrogen−containing fertilizers ultimately leading to detrimental environmental impacts. One reason behind is being the nitrification (biological oxidation of NH₃ to NO₂⁻ and NO₃⁻). These anions ultimately leached into water bodies, leading to downstream eutrophication. Another pathway is denitrification (reduction of NO₂⁻ and NO₃⁻ to N₂O and N₂). During the denitrification process, substantial amounts of greenhouse gas, N₂O escape into the atmosphere. In line with such an emergency, this proposal is set to tackle this grand challenge to convert oxidized form of nitrogen usually abbreviated as NOx to its ultimate reduced form i.e., NH₃. This project is constructed on a two−legged strategy; development of functional artificial proteins to replicate to its best the active sites of the natural enzymes involved in the NOx transformations. The second part deals with the development of cost efficient synthetic systems holding the appropriate chemical functionalities to reproduce the unmatched catalytic power of natural enzymes.