O2gestützten

O2gestützten is a German adjective meaning oxygen-supported; it is commonly written as O2-gestützten and describes processes that rely on molecular oxygen (O2) as an oxidant or electron acceptor. The term appears in biology, chemistry, environmental science and materials science to denote dependence on oxygen rather than anaerobic alternatives.

In biology, O2-gestützten processes refer to aerobic respiration, in which O2 accepts electrons in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, allowing efficient ATP production. Under low-oxygen conditions, cells may shift toward anaerobic metabolism with lower energy yield.

In chemistry, O2-gestützten oxidation reactions use O2 as oxidant, often with catalysts, enabling the oxidation of organic substrates under mild conditions. In industry, aerobic oxidation is used for the synthesis of fine chemicals and in green chemistry due to the abundance of O2.

In environmental engineering, O2-gestützten processes describe aerobic treatment of wastewater and activated sludge systems that rely on dissolved oxygen to decompose organic matter, improving stability and reducing odors.

In materials science, oxygen-supported oxidation governs the formation of oxide layers on metals and polymers, which can be either beneficial for protection or detrimental due to corrosion if not controlled.

Advantages include the use of abundant oxygen and potentially high reaction rates, while challenges involve supplying and transferring oxygen, managing mass transport, and avoiding the formation of reactive oxygen species that can damage biomolecules or materials.