so, i could hook a big one up to my compost bin and......

[Guest guest]

Food scraps to power bacteria-driven battery

 

UK: October 11, 2002

 

 

LONDON - Food scraps once consigned to the compost heap - or the dog - could

soon be powering a cheap bacteria-driven battery if British scientists have

their way.

 

 

Researchers at the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol have

developed a microbial fuel cell about the size of a mobile phone that could be

powered by organic household waste.

" Right now, their fuel cell runs only on sugar cubes, since these produce almost

no waste when broken down, but they aim to move on to carrot power, " New

Scientist magazine said this week.

 

Chris Melhuish and his team are using the cell to run a small light-sensitive

robot but they said when a series of the cells are connected they could run

domestic appliances.

 

The bacteria-driven cell, which would cost about 10 pounds ($15), directly

converts biochemical energy into electricity. It uses E.coli bacteria to break

down carbohydrates and release hydrogen atoms.

 

" The cell also contains chemicals that drive a series of redox, reduction and

oxidation reactions, stripping electrons from the hydrogen atoms and delivering

them steadily to the fuel cell's anode. This creates a voltage that can be used

to power a circuit, " the magazine said.

 

Melhuish and his team said their organic battery can produce eight times as much

energy as other microbial fuel cells.

 

 

 

REUTERS NEWS SERVICE