H01M8/16

Branched anodes for microbial fuel cells

Disclosed are anode electrode structures for microbial fuel cell (MFC) devices, systems and methods for treating wastewater and generating electrical energy through a bioelectrochemical waste-to-energy conversion process. In some aspects, an anode electrode includes a conductive core and a plurality of sheets of conductive textile material wound around the conductive core. In some aspects, the anode electrode is produced by cutting sheets of a conductive textile material to form a stem and a plurality of branches connected to the stem. The conductive textile material is pretreated to enhance the surface area, hydrophilicity, microbial attachment, and/or electrochemical activity of the conductive textile material. The sheets are stacked together and wound around a conductive core to produce the anode electrode. In implementations, the anode electrode can be used to transfer electrons removed from wastewater surrounding the branched electrode via an oxidation reaction on the electrode surface within the an MFC device.

Bioelectrochemical method and apparatus for energy reclamation from nitrogen compounds
11691901 · 2023-07-04 · ·

Methods are described for treating aqueous solutions, including wastewater, to remove nitrogen-containing compounds using electrochemical processes. The method may be conducted electrolytically under an applied voltage or using endogenous current in a fuel cell arrangement. In some embodiments, energy is reclaimed in the form of hydrogen, methane, and other hydrocarbons or organic molecules. Microorganisms may be used as the catalyst for oxidation of the nitrogen-containing compound and/or reduction of hydrogen ions, carbon dioxide, or bicarbonate. Anaerobic or low-oxygen conditions may be used in the zone.

Bioelectrochemical method and apparatus for energy reclamation from nitrogen compounds
11691901 · 2023-07-04 · ·

Methods are described for treating aqueous solutions, including wastewater, to remove nitrogen-containing compounds using electrochemical processes. The method may be conducted electrolytically under an applied voltage or using endogenous current in a fuel cell arrangement. In some embodiments, energy is reclaimed in the form of hydrogen, methane, and other hydrocarbons or organic molecules. Microorganisms may be used as the catalyst for oxidation of the nitrogen-containing compound and/or reduction of hydrogen ions, carbon dioxide, or bicarbonate. Anaerobic or low-oxygen conditions may be used in the zone.

Devices and methods for generating electrical current from methane

Methods, microbial fuel cells and microbial consortia for generating electrical current are provided according to the present invention which include providing a microbial consortium to an anode chamber of a microbial fuel cell, wherein the microbial consortium includes: 1) an engineered methanogen that contains a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding methyl-coenzyme M reductase derived from an anaerobic methane oxidizer, 2) an exoelectrogen microbe that produces electrically-conductive appendages and/or one or more types of electron carrier, and 3) a sludge, methane-acclimated sludge, a sludge isolate component, a methane-acclimated sludge isolate component chosen from Paracoccus spp., Geotoga spp., Geobacter spp., Methanosarcina spp., Garciella spp., humic acids; or a combination of any two or more thereof.

Devices and methods for generating electrical current from methane

Methods, microbial fuel cells and microbial consortia for generating electrical current are provided according to the present invention which include providing a microbial consortium to an anode chamber of a microbial fuel cell, wherein the microbial consortium includes: 1) an engineered methanogen that contains a heterologous nucleic acid sequence encoding methyl-coenzyme M reductase derived from an anaerobic methane oxidizer, 2) an exoelectrogen microbe that produces electrically-conductive appendages and/or one or more types of electron carrier, and 3) a sludge, methane-acclimated sludge, a sludge isolate component, a methane-acclimated sludge isolate component chosen from Paracoccus spp., Geotoga spp., Geobacter spp., Methanosarcina spp., Garciella spp., humic acids; or a combination of any two or more thereof.

BIOELECTROCHEMICAL SYSTEM FOR TREATMENT OF ORGANIC LIQUID WASTES

The present invention relates to a bio electrochemical system for the treatment of organic liquid wastes. The bio electrochemical system comprises a container; at least one tube shaped separator vertically disposed such that it penetrates the container; at least one anode disposed in the external space of the tube shaped separator; at least one cathode disposed in the interior space of the tube shaped separator; and at least one partition plate horizontally disposed such that it forms multistage horizontal flow channels for organic liquid wastes in the container.

BIOELECTROCHEMICAL SYSTEM FOR TREATMENT OF ORGANIC LIQUID WASTES

The present invention relates to a bio electrochemical system for the treatment of organic liquid wastes. The bio electrochemical system comprises a container; at least one tube shaped separator vertically disposed such that it penetrates the container; at least one anode disposed in the external space of the tube shaped separator; at least one cathode disposed in the interior space of the tube shaped separator; and at least one partition plate horizontally disposed such that it forms multistage horizontal flow channels for organic liquid wastes in the container.

ENERGY PRODUCTION AND/OR STORAGE DEVICE COMPRISING A RESERVOIR

A device for producing and/or storing electrical energy (2), characterized in that the device comprises: an anode (4), a cathode (6), a separator (8) allowing for the transfer of at least one compound capable of triggering and/or enabling a production and/or storage of electrical energy (8), arranged between the anode (4) and the cathode (6), and at least one breakable, pierceable, and/or deformable reservoir (10) made of a compound capable of triggering and/or enabling a production and/or a storage of electrical energy, said reservoir (10) having means for bringing said compound and said separator (8) into contact with each other; said means for bringing said compound and said separator (8) into contact with each other being, in particular, means for transferring a liquid.

BIOFILMS IN BIOELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY CONVERSION CELLS

Presented herein is a voltaic cell containing a biofilm for facilitating energy conversion in a bioelectrochemical energy conversion cell where the biofilm includes one or more microbial populations.

Bio-trickling filter box device capable of purifying organic wastewater and generating electricity

A bio-trickling filter box device capable of purifying organic wastewater and generating electricity is provided, which includes battery component(s) and a bio-trickling filter box component. The battery component(s) is provided in the bio-trickling filter box. The other end of each of trickling filter tube(s) is connected with a water tank. A water pump operates to make water flow through the trickling filter tube(s), pass through leakage holes and trickling holes, and drip into the battery component(s) in a water-drop manner, so as to supply an electric apparatus component with power. The bio-trickling filter box component(s) and the battery component(s) are combined, and the long-term impingement of water droplets on the battery component(s) can accumulate electric charge and generate the electricity. so as to provide power required by the electric apparatus component, which forms a biological treatment system that generates the power while treating the wastewater.