Yeast biofilm based fuel cell
First Claim
1. In a method of making a fuel cell having an anode chamber with an anode in a first anode solution, a cathode chamber having a cathode in an initial cathode solution, a proton conducting membrane therebetween, a resistor connectable across the anode and the cathode to enable conduction of current through a resistance of from 10 ohms to 10,000 ohms, the improvement comprising:
- (a) adding a selected quantity of yeast cells and a selected quantity of a first yeast nutrient source to the first anode solution in the anode chamber;
(b) connecting the resistor across the anode and cathode to enable current flow therethrough for a selected time interval to thereby enable poising of the anode and formation of a yeast biofilm thereof on the anode;
(c) preparing a second anode solution different from said first anode solution;
(d) replacing the first anode solution with a replacement quantity of the second anode solution;
(e) adding a selected quantity of a second yeast nutrient source to said second anode solution where said second yeast nutrient source comprises either (i) a yeast nutrient source different than said first yeast nutrient source or (ii) a solution including said first nutrient source in combination with at least one different yeast nutrient source;
(f) continuing to run the fuel cell for the selected time interval at a resistance of from 10 ohms to 10,000 ohms; and
(g) repeating steps (d) and (e) until the yeast has formed a desired biofilm on the anode.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A yeast biofilm microbial fuel cell has anode and cathode chambers, each containing an electrolyte medium, separated by a proton conducting membrane. A baker'"'"'s yeast biofilm is induced to form on the anode under electrical poising. A method of making the MFC includes adding baker'"'"'s yeast and yeast nutrient fuel source to the anode solution, connecting a resistor across the anode and cathode to enable current flow through the resistor for a selected time for poising the anode and formation of the anodic yeast biofilm, replacing the anode solution with a fresh quantity of yeast-free solution, adding fuel source to the solution, and continuing to run the MFC for a selected time under resistance. The steps of replacing the anode solution, adding fuel source and running the cell under load are repeated until the baker'"'"'s yeast has formed a suitable anodic biofilm.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. In a method of making a fuel cell having an anode chamber with an anode in a first anode solution, a cathode chamber having a cathode in an initial cathode solution, a proton conducting membrane therebetween, a resistor connectable across the anode and the cathode to enable conduction of current through a resistance of from 10 ohms to 10,000 ohms, the improvement comprising:
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(a) adding a selected quantity of yeast cells and a selected quantity of a first yeast nutrient source to the first anode solution in the anode chamber; (b) connecting the resistor across the anode and cathode to enable current flow therethrough for a selected time interval to thereby enable poising of the anode and formation of a yeast biofilm thereof on the anode; (c) preparing a second anode solution different from said first anode solution; (d) replacing the first anode solution with a replacement quantity of the second anode solution; (e) adding a selected quantity of a second yeast nutrient source to said second anode solution where said second yeast nutrient source comprises either (i) a yeast nutrient source different than said first yeast nutrient source or (ii) a solution including said first nutrient source in combination with at least one different yeast nutrient source; (f) continuing to run the fuel cell for the selected time interval at a resistance of from 10 ohms to 10,000 ohms; and (g) repeating steps (d) and (e) until the yeast has formed a desired biofilm on the anode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A microbial fuel cell comprising:
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(a) an anode chamber of two configurations, a first configuration having an anode in a first anode solution wherein said first anode solution includes a first yeast nutrient source; (b) a second configuration wherein said anode chamber has an anode in a second anode solution different from said first anode solution wherein said second yeast nutrient source comprises either (i) a yeast nutrient source different than said first yeast nutrient source or (ii) a solution including said first nutrient source in combination with at least one different yeast nutrient source; (c) a cathode chamber having a cathode in a cathode solution; (d) a proton conducting membrane positioned in communication between said anode chamber and said cathode chamber; and (e) said anode including a yeast cell biofilm adherent thereon. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29)
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27. A microbial fuel cell including an anode component and a cathode component, comprising:
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(a) said anode component including an anode structure with a yeast biofilm Adherent thereon; and (b) said anode component of two configurations, a first configuration having a first anode solution and a second configuration having a second anode solution different from said first anode solution, a second configuration wherein said anode chamber has an anode in a second anode solution different from said first anode solution wherein said first nutrient source and second anode solution includes a second yeast nutrient source comprising either (i) a yeast nutrient source different than said first yeast nutrient source or (ii) a solution including said first nutrient source in combination with at least one different yeast nutrient source.
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Specification