May 24th, 2006
Better Fuel Cells Using Bacteria
I would love a self-sustaining system. The toilet powering the house.
Technology Review: Emerging Technologies and their Impact
While typical fuel cells use hydrogen as fuel, separating out electrons to create electricity, bacteria can use a wide variety of nutrients as fuel. Some species, such as Shewanella oneidensis and Rhodoferax ferrireducens, turn these nutrients directly into electrons. Indeed, scientists have already created experimental microbial fuel cells that can run off glucose and sewage. Although these microscopic organisms are remarkably efficient at producing energy, they don’t make enough of it for practical applications.
