MICROBIAL FUEL CELL WITH IMPROVED ANODE
First Claim
1. A method for preparing a microbial fuel cell, the method comprising:
- inoculating an anodic liquid medium in contact with an anode of the microbial fuel cell with one or more types of microorganisms capable of functioning by an exoelectrogenic mechanism;
establishing a biofilm of said microorganisms on and/or within said anode along with a substantial absence of planktonic forms of said microorganisms by substantial removal of said planktonic microorganisms during forced flow and recirculation conditions of said anodic liquid medium; and
subjecting the microorganisms of the biofilm to a growth stage by incorporating one or more carbon-containing nutritive compounds in the anodic liquid medium during biofilm formation or after biofilm formation on the anode has been established,wherein the anodic liquid medium is contained in an anode chamber and is separated by a cation-selective permeable material from a cathodic liquid medium in contact with a cathode, wherein the anode and cathode are in electrical communication.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a microbial fuel cell, wherein the method includes: (i) inoculating an anodic liquid medium in contact with an anode of the microbial fuel cell with one or more types of microorganisms capable of functioning by an exoelectrogenic mechanism; (ii) establishing a biofilm of the microorganisms on and/or within the anode along with a substantial absence of planktonic forms of the microorganisms by substantial removal of the planktonic microorganisms during forced flow and recirculation conditions of the anodic liquid medium; and (iii) subjecting the microorganisms of the biofilm to a growth stage by incorporating one or more carbon-containing nutritive compounds in the anodic liquid medium during biofilm formation or after biofilm formation on the anode has been established.
17 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method for preparing a microbial fuel cell, the method comprising:
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inoculating an anodic liquid medium in contact with an anode of the microbial fuel cell with one or more types of microorganisms capable of functioning by an exoelectrogenic mechanism; establishing a biofilm of said microorganisms on and/or within said anode along with a substantial absence of planktonic forms of said microorganisms by substantial removal of said planktonic microorganisms during forced flow and recirculation conditions of said anodic liquid medium; and subjecting the microorganisms of the biofilm to a growth stage by incorporating one or more carbon-containing nutritive compounds in the anodic liquid medium during biofilm formation or after biofilm formation on the anode has been established, wherein the anodic liquid medium is contained in an anode chamber and is separated by a cation-selective permeable material from a cathodic liquid medium in contact with a cathode, wherein the anode and cathode are in electrical communication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 31, 32, 33, 34, 37, 39, 40, 43, 44, 47, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56)
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24. (canceled)
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28. A method for preparing a microbial fuel cell, the method comprising:
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(i) inoculating an anodic liquid medium in contact with an anode of the microbial fuel cell with one or more types of microorganisms capable of functioning by an exoelectrogenic mechanism; and (ii) establishing a biofilm of said microorganisms on and/or within said anode along with a substantial absence of planktonic forms of said microorganisms by substantial removal of said planktonic microorganisms during forced flow and recirculation conditions of said anodic liquid medium; (iii) subjecting the microorganisms of the biofilm to a growth stage by incorporating one or more carbon-containing nutritive compounds in the anodic liquid medium during or after biofilm formation on the anode has been established; and (iv) subjecting the microorganisms of the biofilm to a starvation stage after said growth stage by substantially eliminating carbon-containing nutritive compounds from the anodic liquid medium for a period of time in which enrichment of the biofilm with microorganisms capable of storing carbon internally is achieved, wherein the anodic liquid medium is contained in an anode chamber and is separated by a cation-selective permeable material from a cathodic liquid medium in contact with a cathode, wherein the anode and cathode are in electrical communication. - View Dependent Claims (35, 41)
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29. A method for preparing a microbial fuel cell, the method comprising:
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(i) inoculating an anodic liquid medium in contact with an anode of the microbial fuel cell with one or more types of microorganisms capable of functioning by an exoelectrogenic mechanism; and (ii) establishing a biofilm of said microorganisms on and/or within said anode along with a substantial absence of planktonic forms of said microorganisms by substantial removal of said planktonic microorganisms during forced flow and recirculation conditions of said anodic liquid medium; (iii) subjecting the microorganisms of the biofilm to a growth stage by incorporating one or more carbon-containing nutritive compounds in the anodic liquid medium during or after biofilm formation on the anode has been established; (iv) subjecting the microorganisms of the biofilm to a starvation stage after said growth stage by substantially eliminating carbon-containing nutritive compounds from the anodic liquid medium for a period of time in which enrichment of the biofilm with microorganisms capable of storing carbon internally is achieved; and (v) reducing the electrical resistance of the microbial fuel cell in order to operate the microbial fuel cell at an increased electrical current output for a period of time sufficient to further enrich the biofilm with microorganisms capable of functioning by an exoelectrogenic mechanism, wherein the anodic liquid medium is contained in an anode chamber and is separated by a cation-selective permeable material from a cathodic liquid medium in contact with a cathode, wherein the anode and cathode are in electrical communication. - View Dependent Claims (30, 36, 42)
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38. (canceled)
- 45. A microbial fuel cell characterized by the presence of a biofilm of exoelectrogenic microorganisms on an anode of said microbial fuel cell, said biofilm containing a portion of microorganisms capable of storing carbonaceous compounds or materials internally, wherein said anode is in electrical communication with a cathode, and said anode and cathode are in contact with, respectfully, anodic and cathodic solutions that are separated by a cation-selective permeable membrane, and wherein said anode has a volume, and an anode chamber containing the anode has a volume, wherein a ratio of the volume of the anode to the volume of the anode chamber is at least 0.5.
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48. (canceled)
Specification