A research driven by Harvard scientists believe in the power generated by bacteria to generate electricity. The research points to a possible commercialization of a technology known as microbial fuel cell (MFC).
MFC is constituted of a biological part and by a electrochemical reactor that could generate renewable energy. That system is capable to use composed organic and inorganic electron donor (ED) as fuel. The system MFC has the advantage of burning stages in relation to other technologies. That advantage happens due to the union between the metabolism of the bacterium with the production of electricity.
The components of systems as MFC basically are the same ones, with a pair of batteries as terminals, and with anode and cathode electrodes. Those electrodes are connected through an external circuit and an electrolyte (conductive solution of electricity).
The electric power is generated through the difference tension among the electrodes. The operation has three stages, in the first the bacteria, through the breathing process, degrade the organic residues to CO2, transferring electrons for the anode. Those electrons leave the anode for the external circuit, and then generate electricity. The reaction concludes when the electrons arrive to the cathode and then receive hydrogen and oxygen ions forming water.
According to the research, the bacteria need the anode to survive, therefore the same is used in its metabolism. The importance of the anode in the life of the bacteria is due to the fact that it needs to accomplish breathing, what explains the formation of a biofilme in the terminal. The biofilme is formed by a biomass that activates and inactive naturally.
MFC is constituted of a biological part and by a electrochemical reactor that could generate renewable energy. That system is capable to use composed organic and inorganic electron donor (ED) as fuel. The system MFC has the advantage of burning stages in relation to other technologies. That advantage happens due to the union between the metabolism of the bacterium with the production of electricity.
The components of systems as MFC basically are the same ones, with a pair of batteries as terminals, and with anode and cathode electrodes. Those electrodes are connected through an external circuit and an electrolyte (conductive solution of electricity).
The electric power is generated through the difference tension among the electrodes. The operation has three stages, in the first the bacteria, through the breathing process, degrade the organic residues to CO2, transferring electrons for the anode. Those electrons leave the anode for the external circuit, and then generate electricity. The reaction concludes when the electrons arrive to the cathode and then receive hydrogen and oxygen ions forming water.
According to the research, the bacteria need the anode to survive, therefore the same is used in its metabolism. The importance of the anode in the life of the bacteria is due to the fact that it needs to accomplish breathing, what explains the formation of a biofilme in the terminal. The biofilme is formed by a biomass that activates and inactive naturally.
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