ELECTRODES FOR USE IN BACTERIAL FUEL CELLS AND BACTERIAL ELECTROLYSIS CELLS AND BACTERIAL FUEL CELLS AND BACTERIAL ELECTROLYSIS CELLS EMPLOYING SUCH ELECTRODES

• US 20110229742A1
• Filed: 11/01/2009
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fluence Water Products and Innovation Limited
• Original Assignee: Emefcy Ltd. (Fluence Corp. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Shechter, Ronen Itzhak, Eshed, Lior, Levy, Eytan Baruch
• Granted Patent: US 8,932,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/2
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46109 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46138 Electrodes comprising a substrate and a coating
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46157 Perforated or foraminous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46166 Gas diffusion electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4611 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4619 Supplying gas to the electrolyte gas diffusion electrodes C02F2001/46166
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/10 Energy recovery
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/005 Combined electrochemical biological processes aeration by electrolytically produced oxygen bubbles C02F3/202
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/103 Textile-type packing
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 11/095 at least one of the compounds being organic
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/86 Inert electrodes with catalytic activity, e.g. for fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/90 Selection of catalytic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/9008 Organic or organo-metallic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/9041 Metals or alloys H01M4/92 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/16 Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/30 Wastewater or sewage treatment systems using renewable energies

Abstract

A bacterial fuel cell including a plurality of anodes and a plurality of cathodes in liquid communication with a liquid to be purified, the plurality of anodes and the plurality of cathodes each including a metal electrical conductor arranged to be electrically coupled across a load in an electrical circuit and an electrically conductive coating at least between the metal electrical conductor and the liquid to be purified, the electrically conductive coating being operative to mutually seal the liquid and the electrical conductor from each other.

Claims

1. A bacterial fuel cell comprising:

a plurality of anodes and a plurality of cathodes in liquid communication with a liquid to be purified, said plurality of anodes and said plurality of cathodes each comprising;

a metal electrical conductor arranged to be electrically coupled across a load in an electrical circuit; and

an electrically conductive coating at least between said metal electrical conductor and said liquid to be purified, said electrically conductive coating being operative to mutually seal said liquid and said electrical conductor from each other.

2. A bacterial fuel cell according to claim 1 and also comprising at least one surface adapted for biofilm growth on a surface thereof which is in liquid communication with said liquid to be purified and is in electrical communication with said metal electrical conductor via said electrically conductive coating.

4. A bacterial fuel cell according to claim 2 and wherein said at least one surface adapted for biofilm growth is defined by a fabric overlying a surface of said electrically conductive coating.

9. A bacterial fuel cell according to claim 1 and wherein said plurality of cathodes each also comprises an oxygen permeable, liquid-impermeable layer adjacent said electrically conductive coating and wherein said oxygen permeable, liquid-impermeable layer is exposed to an oxygen containing gas.

10. A bacterial fuel cell according to claim 9 and wherein said oxygen permeable, liquid-impermeable layer comprises an electrically conductive sheet.

11. A bacterial fuel cell according to claim 9 and wherein said oxygen permeable, liquid-impermeable layer is formed of silicone rubber.

13. A bacterial fuel cell according to claim 1 and wherein said metal electrical conductor is in the form of a wire grid, a perforated planar element or a generally parallel array of wires.

16. A bacterial fuel cell according to claim 1 and wherein at least one of said plurality of cathodes comprises an attachment layer.

17. A bacterial fuel cell according to claim 16 and wherein said attachment layer is formed of a plastic fabric.

18. A bacterial fuel cell according to claim 1 wherein:

apertures are formed in said plurality of anodes and cathodes;

said fuel cell also comprises;

conduits defined between adjacent ones of said plurality of cathodes; and

volumes defined between adjacent ones of said plurality of cathodes and said plurality of anodes providing communication of said liquid to be purified with said plurality of anodes and said plurality of cathodes;

said apertures provide communication of said liquid to be purified between said conduits and said volumes; and

said plurality of anodes and cathodes are sealed together.

22. A bacterial fuel cell according to claim 2 and wherein:

said metal electrical conductor is twisted to retain a multiplicity of elongate elements in bunches along an elongate extent thereof; and

said elongate elements are non-metallic electrical conductors having an electrical conductivity less than an electrical conductivity of said metal electrical conductor.

31. A bacterial fuel cell according to claim 1 -and wherein said metal electrical conductor is formed of copper or aluminum.

32. A bacterial fuel cell according to claim 1 and wherein said electrically conductive coating is formed of a conductive plastic.

33. A bacterial fuel cell according to claim 1 and wherein at least two of said cathodes are arranged adjacent each other and are separated from each other by a gap filled with an oxygen-containing gas.

3. (canceled)

5-8. -8. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

14-15. -15. (canceled)

19-21. -21. (canceled)

23-30. -30. (canceled)

34-54. -54. (canceled)

55. An electrode for use in at least one of a bacterial fuel cell and an electrolysis cell, the electrode comprising:

a metal electrical conductor arranged to be electrically coupled in an electrical circuit;

an electrically conductive coating at least between said metal electrical conductor and a liquid in said cell, said electrically conductive coating operative to mutually seal said liquid and said electrical conductor from each other.

56. An electrode according to claim 55 and also comprising at least one surface adapted for biofilm growth on a surface thereof which is in liquid communication with said liquid in said cell and is in electrical communication with said metal electrical conductor via said electrically conductive coating.

59. An electrode according to claim 56 and wherein:

said at least one surface adapted for biofilm growth is defined by cylindrical surfaces of a multiplicity of elongate elements and extending generally radially outwardly from said metal electrical conductor;

said metal electrical conductor, coated by said electrically conductive coating, is twisted to retain multiple ones of said multiplicity of elongate elements in bunches along an elongate extent thereof; and

said multiplicity of elongate elements comprise fibers and said fibers are formed of graphite or a conductive plastic.

68. An electrode according to claim 56 and wherein said at least one surface adapted for biofilm growth is defined by a fabric overlying a surface of said electrically conductive coating.

71. An electrode according to claim 55 and wherein said metal electrical conductor is in the form of a wire grid, a perforated planar element or a generally parallel array of wires.

74. An electrode according to claim 55 and wherein said metal electrical conductor is formed of copper or aluminum.

75. An electrode according to claim 55 and wherein said electrically conductive coating is formed of a conductive plastic.

57-58. -58. (canceled)

60-67. -67. (canceled)

69-70. -70. (canceled)

72-73. -73. (canceled)

76. A bacterial electrolysis cell comprising:

a plurality of anodes and cathodes in liquid communication with a liquid to be purified located in a tank comprising;

an inlet for receipt of water to be purified;

an outlet for output of purified water; and

an outlet for hydrogen containing gas,

said plurality of anodes and cathodes being connected via an electrical circuit across an electrical power source,

at least one of said anodes and cathodes comprising;

a metal electrical conductor arranged to be electrically coupled in an electrical circuit;

an electrically conductive coating at least between said metal electrical conductor and a liquid in said cell, said electrically conductive coating operative to mutually seal said liquid in said cell and said electrical conductor from each other.

77. A bacterial electrolysis cell according to claim 76 and also comprising at least one surface adapted for biofilm growth on a surface thereof which is in liquid communication with said liquid to be purified and is in electrical communication with said metal electrical conductor via said electrically conductive coating.

80. A bacterial electrolysis cell according to claim 77 and wherein:

said at least one surface adapted for biofilm growth is defined by cylindrical surfaces of a multiplicity of elongate elements and extending generally radially outwardly from said metal electrical conductor;

said metal electrical conductor, coated by said electrically conductive coating, is twisted to retain multiple ones of said multiplicity of elongate elements in bunches along an elongate extent thereof; and

said multiplicity of elongate elements comprise fibers and said fibers are formed of graphite or a conductive plastic.

86. A bacterial electrolysis cell according to claim 76 and wherein said metal electrical conductor is in the form of a wire, a cable or a rod.

89. A bacterial electrolysis cell according to claim 76 and wherein said metal electrical conductor is formed of copper or aluminum.

90. A bacterial electrolysis cell according to claim 76 and wherein said electrically conductive coating is formed of a conductive plastic.

78-79. -79. (canceled)

81-85. -85. (canceled)

87-88. -88. (canceled)