CATHODES FOR MICROBIAL ELECTROLYSIS CELLS AND MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a reaction chamber having a wall defining an interior of the reaction chamber and an exterior of the reaction chamber;
exoelectrogenic bacteria disposed in the interior of the reaction chamber;
an aqueous medium having a pH in the range of 3-9, inclusive, the aqueous medium comprising an organic substrate oxidizable by exoelectrogenic bacteria, the aqueous medium disposed in the interior of the reaction chamber;
an anode at least partially contained within the interior of the reaction chamber; and
a brush or mesh cathode comprising stainless steel, nickel or titanium, the cathode at least partially contained within the interior of the reaction chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is provided according to embodiments of the present invention which includes a reaction chamber having a wall defining an interior of the reaction chamber and an exterior of the reaction chamber; exoelectrogenic bacteria disposed in the interior of the reaction chamber; an aqueous medium having a pH in the range of 3-9, inclusive, the aqueous medium including an organic substrate oxidizable by exoelectrogenic bacteria and the medium disposed in the interior of the reaction chamber. An inventive apparatus further includes an anode at least partially contained within the interior of the reaction chamber; and a brush or mesh cathode including stainless steel, nickel or titanium, the cathode at least partially contained within the interior of the reaction chamber.
70 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a reaction chamber having a wall defining an interior of the reaction chamber and an exterior of the reaction chamber; exoelectrogenic bacteria disposed in the interior of the reaction chamber; an aqueous medium having a pH in the range of 3-9, inclusive, the aqueous medium comprising an organic substrate oxidizable by exoelectrogenic bacteria, the aqueous medium disposed in the interior of the reaction chamber; an anode at least partially contained within the interior of the reaction chamber; and a brush or mesh cathode comprising stainless steel, nickel or titanium, the cathode at least partially contained within the interior of the reaction chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for fabricating a cathode comprising:
coating a stainless steel, nickel or titanium mesh, the mesh having wires defining pores, with an oxygen permeable layer comprising a viscoelastic polymer, the coating adherent to the mesh and present in the pores, forming a continuous coating on one or both sides of the mesh, wherein the mesh and coating are not exposed to a temperature above 100°
C. or a pressure above ambient pressure.
Specification