Vitamin powered fuel cell
Bugs found in water and soil make electricity by feeding on simple organic compounds.
New research shows that a vitamin called riboflavin is a key product that creates electron flow.
Rates of electricity production increased by 370 percent as riboflavin accumulated.
natural battery
Bacteria have been changing the chemistry of the environment for billions of years. Their ability to make iron soluble is a central part of the metal cycle in the environment. It is essential to most life on earth.
In nature, bacteria such as Shewanella need to access and dissolve metals such as iron. Having the ability to direct electrons to metals allows them to change their chemistry and availability.
new control
The discovery means Shewanella can produce more power simply by increased riboflavin levels. Also, the finding opens up multiple possibilities for innovations in renewable energy and environmental clean-up.
Scaled-up “microbial fuel cells” using similar bacteria could generate enough electricity to clean up wastewater or sewage, or power remote sensors on the ocean floor.
Bigger projects like electricity for transport and heating buildings, will require significant advances in biology and in the cost-effectiveness of fuel cell materials.
bio-magnetics
A year ago, a student was able to generate about half the voltage of a normal AA battery with a fifth of an ounce of naturally occurring magnetic bacteria. And the bacteria kept pumping current for 48 hours nonstop.
This is a different ‘bio-technology’, and suggests that when research is focussed by the challenges of Peak Oil and Climate Change, there are relevent advances that can be made.
But to rely on them solving the problems alone…?
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