The U.S. Department of Energy (DE) and the unheard of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) recently revealed how the microscopic molecular structure of bacteria proteins allows for energy transfer [1]. To put it in easier wording, the DE and the BBSRC says that they can use bacteria for energy.
What does this mean? It means that our poop can be recycled to keep the lights on in our houses, by our knowledge of how bacteria transfer electrical charges. We can make fuel cells that are filled with energy of human or animal waste--something that the world definately has a lot of. Not only that, but making these cells can be cheap!
“What happens in this process is that bacteria take in organic carbon molecules and ‘chew’ them inside the cell, which then releases electrons,” explained Dr. Tom Clarke, a lead researcher on the project.
Bacteria have multiple layers of proteins that act as the powerlines of the cell, allowing the electrons produced within the cell to go back to its surface. The bacteria feed off the electrodes, generating electrons.
We can now connect fuel cells to those electrons and collect them, effectively making a 'bacteria battery.' This process has been colloquially dubbed "breathing rocks" by researchers, though its technical term is iron respiration.
“It offers a very nice method of getting ecologically sound energy,” Dr. Clark said to FoxNews.com, adding that we could use these types of batteries at waste treatment plants to produce extra energy.
The bacteria could even aid in the cleanup of oil or uranium pollution, along with an everday generator. It's all plentiful and renewable--bacteria are everywhere!
“One of the advantages of the bacteria we’re looking at is they're found everywhere already. They actually live in the ground or in very common places. If you look at a lot of the names of what we’re considering, they’re in every single lake already,” Dr. Clarke said. “All we would be doing is changing the surface that they live on.”
This is just another way to harness energy other than the dependency of unrenewable resources like petroleum and coal. Along with decreasing costs of solar panels and the growing number of other energy production methods like wind, hydro, and nuclear generators in multiple countries, it's nice to finally know that there's a way to use our poop for energy.
-Luke
[1] Source: Fox News Article
The postings of a seemingly smart highschooler.
Bacteria get a bad rap for causing disease, but many of these organisms are beneficial. Without them, we wouldn't be able to digest our food, and garbage would never decompose. Now, one group of scientists has found another way to put bacteria to work.
ReplyDeleteAmen, that's exactly why I'm all for these new bacteria batteries and their development!
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