Ion Power and PSU's Microbial fuel cell yields "practical" hydrogen

Ion Power and PSU's Microbial fuel cell yields "practical" hydrogen

Publication Date:27-June-2005
10:47 AM US Eastern Timezone
Source:Asia Intelligence Wire

Ion Power Inc and the Pennsylvannia State University have come up with a process that allows bacteria to generate four times as much hydrogen directly from biomass that can be produced by fermentation alone.

The technology, which utilises a new electrically-assisted anaerobic microbial fuel cell (MFC), may capture hydrogen for fuel from renewable sources for clean transportation.

It was discovered that by boosting the electrochemical potential in a fully anaerobic MFC circuit with a voltage of 250 mV or higher, bacteria are given enough energy to destroy the fermentation by-products at the anode.

More than 95% of the acetate was used, with a concomitant recovery of 90% of the electrons as hydrogen gas in a fully oxygen-free cell.

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