[NewCandle] Microbial fuel cells

[Keith Nagel]

Hey Nick,

It looks like an ordinary fuel cell, with anode, cathode, and proton
exchange membrane. The bacteria live at the anode. They convert
the dead animal waste in CO2 and energy. The trick is to keep
conditions anarobic. Starved of oxygen, the bacteria are able
to use the anode for the final electron acceptor to produce
water. Magic! Well, sufficiently complex to make me link
rather than summarize. It seems the researchers are a little
fuzzy about the details as well...

http://www.microbialfuelcell.org/www/index.php/Microbiology/3-The-energy-met
abolism-of-microorganisms.html

http://tinyurl.com/lpo7lj

I love the idea, but it's not terribly practical in light of
the fact that you can just distill the fuel off a decomposition
vat directly and either burn or use it in a standard fuel cell.
This is research that strandles the line between science
and performance art. Very powerful and thought provoking stuff.

K.


-----Original Message-----
From: newcandle-bounces at ipdiscover.com
[mailto:newcandle-bounces at ipdiscover.com]On Behalf Of Nick Reiter
Sent: Saturday, August 01, 2009 5:26 AM
To: New energy for the new world.
Subject: Re: [NewCandle] Microbial fuel cells


Ah, the creepiness of inevitability.

I wonder what the fuel cell medium is?  Something that can digest a mouse or
flies, but yet sustain the microbial life that in turn excrete the fuel
needed for the reactions.  Stomach acid?  HCl?  Or an alkali?

Robo-raptor is hungry!


> Subject: [NewCandle] Microbial fuel cells
> To: "New energy for the new world." <newcandle at ipdiscover.com>
> Date: Friday, July 31, 2009, 11:07 PM
> I for one welcome our new robotic
> overlords!
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UStZZoCrg30&feature=player_embedded
>
> K.






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