Electrodes for use in bacterial fuel cells and bacterial electrolysis cells and bacterial fuel cells and bacterial electrolysis cells employing such electrodes

• US 10,458,029 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2014
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• 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, Levy, Eytan Baruch, Eshed, Lior
• Primary Examiner(s): Carrico, Robert S
• Application Number:
  US14/566,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20150093601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,784 Days
• 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. An electrode for use in at least one of a fuel cell and an electrolysis cell, the electrode comprising:

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

an electrically conductive coating on the entirety of said metal electrical conductor, said electrically conductive coating operative to mutually seal a liquid in said cell and said electrical conductor from each other;

wherein said metal electrical conductor is formed of copper or a copper alloy or aluminum or an aluminum alloy;

said electrically conductive coating is formed of a conductive plastic;

said electrically conductive coating is adapted for biofilm growth; and

said electrically conductive coating is water impermeable.

2. An electrode 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 and is in electrical communication with said metal electrical conductor via said electrically conductive coating.

3. An electrode according to claim 2 and wherein said at least one surface adapted for biofilm growth is defined by cylindrical surfaces of a multiplicity of elongate elements formed of conductive plastic and extending generally radially outwardly from said metal electrical conductor.

4. An electrode according to claim 3 and wherein said metal electrical conductor is twisted to retain multiple ones of said multiplicity of elongate elements in bunches along an elongate extent thereof.

5. An electrode according to claim 3 and wherein said elongate elements are non-metallic electrical conductors having electrical conductivity less than that of said metal electrical conductor.

6. An electrode according to claim 3 and wherein said elongate elements are formed of conductive plastic.

7. An electrode according to claim 3 and wherein said elongate elements are formed of graphite fibers.

8. An electrode according to claim 2 and wherein said at least one surface adapted for biofilm growth is defined by a multiple vane element surrounded by a loosely wound helical element formed of conductive plastic and extending generally radially outwardly from said metal electrical conductor.

9. An electrode 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.

10. An electrode according to claim 2 and wherein said electrically conductive coating comprises an electrically conductive sheet.

11. An electrode according to claim 10 and wherein said metal electrical conductor is in the form of a foil.

12. An electrode according to claim 10 and wherein said metal electrical conductor is in the form of a wire grid.

13. An electrode according to claim 10 and wherein said metal electrical conductor is in the form of a perforated planar element.

14. An electrode according to claim 10 and wherein said metal electrical conductor is in the form of a generally parallel array of wires.

15. An electrode according to claim 1 and wherein said metal electrical conductor is a coated metal electrical conductor and said electrically conductive coating comprises an electrically conductive coating formed onto said metal electrical conductor.

16. An electrode according to claim 1 and wherein said metal electrical conductor is in the form of a wire.

17. An electrode according to claim 1 and wherein said metal electrical conductor is in the form of a cable.

18. An electrode according to claim 1 and wherein said metal electrical conductor is in the form of a rod.

19. A bacterial fuel cell including at least one electrode according to claim 1.

20. An electrode according to claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive coating is oxygen permeable.

21. 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 on the entirety of said metal electrical conductor and a liquid in said cell, said electrically conductive coating operative to mutually seal a said liquid in said cell and said electrical conductor from each other;

wherein said metal electrical conductor is formed of copper or a copper alloy or aluminum or an aluminum alloy;

said electrically conductive coating is selected for permitting biofilm growth thereon; and

said electrically conductive coating is water impermeable.