Production of a Biofilm on an Electrode for a Biocell, Electrode and Biocell Obtained

• US 20110123876A1
• Filed: 05/27/2009
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique, École centrale de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1
• Original Assignee: Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique, École centrale de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1
• Inventors: Monier, Jean-Michel, Vogel, Timothy, Haddour, Naoufel
• Granted Patent: US 9,673,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/401
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 11/00 Treatment of sludge; Devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/00 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage C02F1/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 25/08 electrically charged
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04 Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/16 Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A method for the production of a biofilm at the surface of an electrode in a liquid medium containing bacteria and a substrate for growth of the bacteria, in which a system of electrodes constituted of two electrodes, which are connected to a direct electric current source, is used, these two electrodes are placed in the medium and a predetermined and constant potential difference is applied between the electrodes, by virtue of which biofilms form at the surface of the electrodes. Resulting electrodes and biocells.

Claims

1. A process for producing a biofilm on the surface of an electrode in a liquid medium containing bacteria and a substrate allowing the bacteria to grow, in which a system of electrodes is used that consists of two electrodes which are connected to a DC current source, these two electrodes are placed in the medium and a predetermined constant potential difference is applied between the electrodes, thereby forming biofilms on the surface of the electrodes.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1, in which the potential difference applied is between 100 mV and 700 mV.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1, in which the potential difference applied is between 300 mV and 600 mV.

4. The process as claimed in claim 1, in which the potential difference applied is between 450 mV and 550 mV.

5. The process as claimed in claim 1, in which the potential difference is applied for a length of time of between 3 and 20 days.

6. The process as claimed in claim 5, in which this length of time is between 4 and 7 days.

7. The process as claimed in claim 1, in which the electrodes have the same nature.

8. The process as claimed in claim 7, in which the anode and/or the cathode are/is based on carbon and/or stainless steel, aluminum, nickel or on titanium alloys.

9. A process for preparing a biofuel cell comprising the preparation of an electrode according to the process as claimed in claim 1 and then the use of this electrode in a biofuel cell as either anode or cathode.

10. A process for producing electricity, in which a biofuel cell such as that obtained in claim 9 is used.

11. An electricity production facility comprising one or more biofuel cell(s) prepared according to claim 9.

12. An electrode coated with a biofilm that can be obtained by implementing the process as claimed in claim 1.

13. An anode coated with a biofilm, containing highly oxidizing/reducing bacteria, that can be obtained according to claim 1.

14. A biofuel cell comprising an electrode obtained by implementing the process as claimed in claim 1.

15. A biofuel cell comprising an anode as claimed in claim 13.