Photosynthesis of Carbohydrates in vitro

Abstract

IT has been proved that carbohydrates are photo synthesized when a surface of pure nickel oxide coated with an adsorbed layer of hydrated carbon dioxide is irradiated with white light. The photosynthesis is accomplished by two successive photochemical reactions which are as follows: where h₁ is a quantum of blue light ( λ= 4000 A.), λh₂ is a quantum of red light (λ = 6400 A.), and CHOH represents a molecule of activated formaldehyde which polymerizes on the surface to a carbohydrate. These two processes are followed by a thermal or dark reaction: which takes place in the presence of hydrated carbon dioxide, with the result that the photosynthesis is continuous.