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OSU designs new
biological fuel cell
By the Gazette-Times
Engineers at Oregon State University have
designed a microbial fuel cell that is 10 times more powerful than
other versions of the technology.
This design breakthrough
could allow microbial fuel cells to be used more widely as sources
of sustainable energy, said Hong Liu, an assistant professor in the
OSU Department of Biological and Ecological Engineering.
Microbial fuel cells, also known as
biological fuel cells, use bacteria to convert biodegradable
materials such as wastewater pollutants into electricity.
As
the bacteria consume the pollutants, they shed electrons, which flow
through a circuit and generate electricity. In the process,
pollutants are broken down, resulting in clean water.
The new
design could ultimately lead to portable systems for power
generation that are simultaneously capable of providing reusable
water for developing nations and remote areas. The fuel cell design
could also significantly reduce the amount of electricity used at
large wastewater treatment facilities.
The research results
will be published in Journal of Power Sources, a professional
publication.
Microbial fuel cells, especially those with air
cathodes, hold great promise for many practical applications, due to
their simple configuration and renewable and abundant fuel sources.
However, the power outputs have historically been so low the devices
have not been considered as viable sources of
electricity.
The new design developed by the OSU researchers
involves sandwiching a cloth layer between the anode and the cathode
parts of the microbial fuel cell, a configuration that greatly
reduces the internal resistance, resulting in a much higher power
density, Liu said.
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