A novel chemo-mechanical pressure control system for pumping applications was constructed and tested. The pressure control system utilizes direct conversion of chemical energy to mechanical energy by enzymatic reactions. In order to construct the system, glucose oxidase (GOD) and catalase (CAT) were immobilized onto a dialysis membrane with photosensitive resin. The enzyme immobilized membrane was functioned as a diaphragm of a reaction unit. Therefor, the reaction unit was divided into a top cell (gas phase) and a bottom cell (liquid phase). Characterization of the pressure control system was carried out by supplying hydrogen peroxide and glucose solution into the liquid cell, respectively. As a result, active pressure iincrease in the top cell induced by oxygen production due to decomposition of hydrogen peroxide and pressure decrease induced by oxygen consumption of GOD reaction. Thus, the pressure in the cell was successfully controlled by chemical energy. The possible application of the pressure controle system is a diaphragm pump which is driven with active pressure change.
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