Solar powered biological fuel cell
First Claim
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1. A photosynthetically-driven biological fuel cell comprising:
- means forming a growth chamber having a transparent top exposed to sunlight;
a nutrient aqueous solution contained in said growth chamber;
an anode electrode and a cathode electrode mounted in said growth chamber immersed in said solution in isolated relationship with one another and electrically connected to an external load;
a plurality of isolated mesophyll cells suspended in said nutrient aqueous solution, said mesophyll cells producing malate when illuminated by sunlight, said nutrient solution being capable of sustaining the isolated mesophyll cells in an autotropic state and of initiating malate export from the illuminated mesophyll cells into the solution;
a selected substance suspended in said nutrient solution to act on the malate to form NADH; and
a potential mediator substance suspended in said nutrient solution to transfer electrons from said NADH to said anode.
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Abstract
A solar powered biological fuel cell is provided which is capable of generating a direct electric current in response to incident solar energy. The cell includes a suspension of mesophyll cells isolated from Digitaria sanguinalis (crab grass), malic enzyme, a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a xanthine oxidase enzyme, a potential mediator such as benzyl viologen or methylene blue, and a catalyst such as pyruvate in an aqueous solution; and an appropriate electrode assembly.
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10 Claims
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1. A photosynthetically-driven biological fuel cell comprising:
- means forming a growth chamber having a transparent top exposed to sunlight;
a nutrient aqueous solution contained in said growth chamber;
an anode electrode and a cathode electrode mounted in said growth chamber immersed in said solution in isolated relationship with one another and electrically connected to an external load;
a plurality of isolated mesophyll cells suspended in said nutrient aqueous solution, said mesophyll cells producing malate when illuminated by sunlight, said nutrient solution being capable of sustaining the isolated mesophyll cells in an autotropic state and of initiating malate export from the illuminated mesophyll cells into the solution;
a selected substance suspended in said nutrient solution to act on the malate to form NADH; and
a potential mediator substance suspended in said nutrient solution to transfer electrons from said NADH to said anode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- means forming a growth chamber having a transparent top exposed to sunlight;
Specification