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Microbial Power Plants - Page 2

© Neal Rolfe Chamberlain

In the Science article, Derek R. Lovley, UMass microbiologist and team leader, explained how the team used water and sediment from Boston Harbor, a collection of mason jars, ordinary electrical wiring and sterile graphite electrodes to determine the science behind the mechanics of a simple, sediment battery. The researchers added a layer of common mud to water in the jars, put one graphite electrode in the mud, another in overlying water. This type of power could be useful to power simple devices used to measure changes in the ocean.

It has also been found that other Geobacters can break down toxic compounds. When they do that they generate extra electrons. These electrons could be used to power a warning light for people that must go in contaminated environments. Who knows? Maybe someday with this organic technology troops could detect when the opposing forces release a toxic gas and evacuate before they are injured or hurt. Or maybe I could rig up an energy-generating microbial battery large enough to power my house and say goodbye to the electric company forever.

Dreaming you say? Well, maybe you will think differently when you see me knocking at your door selling Geobacter batteries for your kid's toys...

The Office of Naval Research funded this study. The research team included Daniel R. Bond and Dawn E. Holmes from UMass and Leonard M. Tender of the Naval Research Laboratories.

For more information on this organic technology go to the following: UMass News Release

Take Care and Think Microbiologically! For more articles on microbiology go to Suite101:Microbiology.

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