[4][5] After characterizing cell morphology, metabolism and GC content, the Hydrogenomonas nomenclature was disbanded because it comprised many species of microorganisms.

Both organic compounds and hydrogen can be used as a source of energy[9] C. necator can perform aerobic or anaerobic respiration by denitrification of nitrate and/or nitrite to nitrogen gas.

[10] When growing under autotrophic conditions, C. necator fixes carbon through the reductive pentose phosphate pathway.

[11] It is known to produce and sequester polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) plastics when exposed to excess amounts of sugar substrate.

[9][13] Cupriavidus necator can use hydrogen gas as a source of energy when growing under autotrophic conditions.

[18] The membrane-bound hydrogenase (MBH) is linked to the respiratory chain through a specific cytochrome b-related protein in C.

It recovers energy for the cell by funneling electrons into the respiratory chain and by increasing the proton gradient.

However, no crystal structure is currently available for the C. necator H16 soluble hydrogenase in the presence of oxygen to determine the interactions of the active site with the rest of the protein.

[26] These additional ligands might contribute to the reactivity or help stabilize the Fe atom in the low spin +2 oxidation state.

A recent study showed that oxygen tolerance as implemented in the SH is based on a continuous catalytically driven detoxification of O2 [Ref missing].

[30][31] Electrolysis of water is one way of creating oxygenic atmosphere in space and C. necator was investigated to recycle the hydrogen produced during this process.

Hydrogenases from C. necator have been used to coat electrode surfaces to create hydrogen fuel cells tolerant to oxygen and carbon monoxide[20] and to design hydrogen-producing light complexes.

of Energy, is a potential high energy-density electrofuel that could use existing infrastructure to replace oil as a transportation fuel.

[36] Chemical and biomolecular engineers at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology has presented a scalable way to convert CO2 in the air into a polyester by means of the C.