Method and apparatus for converting chemical energy stored in wastewater into electrical energy
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- (a) forming a biofilm on a substrate exposed to a volume of wastewater having dissolved oxygen, the biofilm having a sufficient thickness to define a gradient between aerobic microorganisms exposed to the wastewater and anaerobic microorganisms proximal to the substrate;
(b) electrically connecting the biofilm to a power harvester, the power harvester being free of an electrical connection to a separate cathode; and
(c) electrically connecting the power harvester to a ground lead.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided for harvesting electricity from a biofilm retained in a zero chamber, no interphase container, the biofilm having a portion supporting aerobic microbial activity and a second portion supporting anaerobic microbial activity, wherein the first and the second portion are in direct physical contact. A power harvester is electrically connected, directly or indirectly, to the second portion of the biofilm.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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(a) forming a biofilm on a substrate exposed to a volume of wastewater having dissolved oxygen, the biofilm having a sufficient thickness to define a gradient between aerobic microorganisms exposed to the wastewater and anaerobic microorganisms proximal to the substrate; (b) electrically connecting the biofilm to a power harvester, the power harvester being free of an electrical connection to a separate cathode; and (c) electrically connecting the power harvester to a ground lead. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A microbial fuel cell comprising:
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(a) a container for retaining a volume of wastewater, the wastewater including dissolved oxygen; (b) a substrate at least partially submerged in the wastewater, the substrate supporting a biofilm exposed to the volume of organic wastewater, the biofilm having a sufficient thickness to define an electron concentration gradient between microorganisms exposed to the wastewater and microorganisms proximal to the substrate; (c) a power harvester; and (d) a first electrical conductor between the power harvester and one of (i) the biofilm and (ii) the substrate, wherein the power harvester is free of an electrical connection to a separate cathode. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A microbial fuel cell comprising:
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(a) a container retaining a volume of wastewater, the container being free of a proton exchange membrane and the wastewater including dissolved oxygen; (b) a substrate at least partially submerged in the wastewater, the substrate supporting a biofilm exposed to the volume of organic wastewater, the biofilm having a sufficient thickness to define an oxygen concentration gradient between microorganisms exposed to the wastewater and microorganisms proximal to the substrate wherein the gradient is sufficient to generate sufficient free electrons; (c) a power harvester; (d) a first electrical conductor between the power harvester and one of (a) the biofilm and (b) the substrate; and (e) a second electrical conductor between the power harvester and a ground, wherein the power harvester is free of an electrical connection to a separate cathode. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification