Methods and apparatus for performing electrochemical and enzymatic reactions

A method of performing coupled electrochemical and enzymatic reactions, the method comprising:

• applying an electrical potential between an anode and a metallic membrane;
• electrochemically dissociating, at the anode, a hydrogen-containing compound to form hydrogen ions;
• transporting the hydrogen ions to a first surface of the metallic membrane;
• at the first surface of the metallic membrane, reducing the hydrogen ions to form hydrogen atoms;
• diffusing the hydrogen atoms through the metallic membrane to an opposing second surface of the metallic membrane in an enzyme compartment;
• at the second surface of the metallic membrane, transferring electrons to the hydrogen atoms to form hydride ions in a solvent comprising a proton source;
• reacting the hydride ions with oxidized cofactors in the enzyme compartment to form reduced cofactors;
• reacting an enzyme and the reduced cofactors with a substrate to yield one or more products and oxidized cofactors, thereby releasing the oxidized cofactors into the enzyme compartment;
• and
• transporting the released oxidized cofactors within the enzyme compartment toward the second surface of the metallic membrane for reaction with the hydride ions to form the reduced cofactors for reactions with the enzyme and the substrate.