This question is, in some sense, a variant of [this][1], but for certain cases. The opposite category of an abelian category is abelian. In particular, if $R-mod$ is the category of $R$-modules over a ring $R$ (say left modules), its opposite category is abelian. The Freyd-Mitchell embedding theorem states that this opposite category can be embedded in a category of modules over a ring $S$. This embedding is usually very noncanonical though. > **Question:** Is there any way to choose $S$ based on $R$? My guess is probably not, since [these notes][2] cite the opposite category of $R-mod$ as an example of an abelian category which is not a category of modules. I can't exactly tell if they mean "it is (for most $R$) (provably) not equivalent to a category of modules over any ring" or "there is no immediate structure as a module category." If it is the former, how would one prove it? I also have a variant of this question when there is additional structure on the category. The module category $H-mod$ of a Hopf algebra $H$ is a tensor category. A Hopf algebra can be reconstructed in certain cases from the tensor category of modules with a fiber functor (e.g. if the hom-spaces are finite-dimensional, etc.) via Tannakian reconstruction. Now $(H-mod)^{opp}$ is a tensor category as well satisfying these conditions. The dual of the initial fiber functor makes sense and becomes a fiber functor from $(H-mod)^{opp} \to \mathrm{Vect}$ (since duality is a contravariant tensor functor on the category of vector spaces). In this case, $(H-mod)^{opp}$ is the representation category of a canonical Hopf algebra $H'$. > **Question$\prime$** What is $H'$ in terms of $H$? [1]: http://mathoverflow.net/questions/23361/construction-of-opposite-category-as-a-structure [2]: http://www.math.ku.dk/~alexb/HomAlg/Category.pdf