Biochemical Fuel Cell Patents (Class 429/401)
  • Patent number: 8192854
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for removing inhibitor compounds from a cellulosic biomass-to-ethanol process which includes a pretreatment step of raw cellulosic biomass material and the production of fermentation process water after production and removal of ethanol from a fermentation step, the method comprising contacting said fermentation process water with an anode of a microbial fuel cell, said anode containing microbes thereon which oxidatively degrade one or more of said inhibitor compounds while producing electrical energy or hydrogen from said oxidative degradation, and wherein said anode is in electrical communication with a cathode, and a porous material (such as a porous or cation-permeable membrane) separates said anode and cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventor: Abhijeet P. Borole
  • Patent number: 8177870
    Abstract: A process for the utilization of the methane produced by enteric fermentation, specifically to a process that utilizes methane produced by ruminant animals through enteric fermentation as a source of carbon and/or energy for the directed production of methane-based goods or processes is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Newlight Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Markus Herrema, Kenton Kimmel
  • Publication number: 20120115045
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and devices for generating electricity from an effluent source. In the presence of a biological catalyst, a high strength effluent allows for efficient production of electricity. Further, disclosed herein are methods for the treatment of wastewater while generating electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Piyush Kumar R. KAPOPARA, Mrityunjay Kumar Singh, Vinayak Gupta, Hemant Giri, Ramesh Chandra Pandey
  • Publication number: 20120064416
    Abstract: Provided are a three electrode type microbial fuel cell and a method of operating the same. The fuel cell includes a sediment electrode acting as an anode and placed in sediment on the bottom of a contaminated water zone, an intermediate electrode acting as an anode or a cathode and placed in water, and an floating electrode acting as a cathode and placed adjacent to a water surface. In the three electrode type microbial fuel cell, the intermediate electrode may be used as an anode or a cathode according to the concentration of organic contaminants in water of the contaminated water zone, so that the fuel cell can continue to generate electricity in any case where the organic contaminants are present in or removed from the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: In-Seop Chang, Junyeong An
  • Patent number: 8124259
    Abstract: A microbial fuel cell (100) includes an anode compartment (110) including an anode (115) and anolyte (120). The anolyte (120) comprises a plurality of in-vivo cells (125) mixed with a plurality of electrically conducting nano or micro-scale fibers (128), wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electrically conducting fibers (128) are in electrical contact with a surface of the anode (115). A cathode compartment (140) includes a cathode (145) and a catholyte (150). A cation-exchange membrane (155) is disposed between the anode compartment (110) and the cathode compartment (140).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G. Rinzler, Lonnie O'Neal Ingram, Keelnatham T. Shanmugam, Jonathan C. Moore, Zhuangchun Wu
  • Publication number: 20120045699
    Abstract: Methods and systems provide for the creation of power, water, and heat utilizing a fuel cell. According to embodiments described herein, fuel is provided to a fuel cell for the creation of power and a fuel byproduct. The fuel byproduct is routed to a byproduct separation phase of a power and water generation system, where water is separated from the fuel byproduct. The remaining mixture is reacted in a burner phase of the system to create additional heat that may be converted to mechanical energy and/or utilized with other processes within the system or outside of the system. According to other aspects, the separated water may be utilized within a biofuel production subsystem for the creation of biofuel to be used by the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Shailesh Atreya, David Whelan, Marianne E. Mata, Tina R. Stoia, David Gill
  • Patent number: 8114544
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus is provided for increasing biofilm formation and power output in microbial fuel cells. An anode material in a microbial fuel cell has a three-dimensional and ordered structure. The anode material fills an entire anode compartment, and it is arranged to allow fluid flow within the anode compartment. The power output of microbial fuel cells is enhanced, primarily by increasing the formation and viability of electrogenic biofilms on the anodes of the microbial fuel cells. The anode material in a microbial fuel cell allows for the growth of a microbial biofilm to its natural thickness. In the instance of members of the Geobacteraceae family, the biofilm is able grow to a depth of about 40 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Tina T. Salguero, Jocelyn Hicks-Garner, Souren Soukiazian
  • Publication number: 20110311887
    Abstract: A microbial desalination cell includes an anode, a cathode, a saline solution chamber and a cathode rinsing assembly. The anode is at least partially positioned within an anode chamber for containing an aqueous reaction mixture including one or more organic compounds and one or more bacteria for oxidizing the organic compounds. The cathode is directly exposed to air. The saline solution chamber is positioned between the anode and the cathode, and is separated from the anode by an anion exchange material and from the cathode by a cation exchange material. The cathode rinsing assembly is for rinsing the cathode with a catholyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: UWM RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventor: Zhen He
  • Patent number: 8076035
    Abstract: A fuel cell which utilizes the biogenic metabolism to produce a high current density is provided. The fuel cell generates electric power in such a way that the fuel is decomposed stepwise by a plurality of enzymes and those electrons formed by oxidation are transferred to the electrode. The enzymes work such that the enzyme activity of the enzyme involved in decomposition in the early stage is smaller than the sum of the enzyme activities of the enzymes involved in decomposition in the later stage. In the case where a coenzyme is involved, the enzyme activity of the oxidase that oxidizes the coenzyme is greater than the sum of the enzyme activities of the enzymes involved in the formation of the reduced form of the coenzyme, out of the enzymes involved in the stepwise decomposition of the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Sakai, Takashi Tomita, Ryosuke Takagi, Yusuke Suzuki, Tsuyonobu Hatazawa
  • Publication number: 20110300455
    Abstract: A microbial fuel cell includes an anode portion having an anode and a cathode portion having a cathode. The anode is configured to support an electrically conductive biofilm matrix. A cation exchange membrane is positioned between the anode and the cathode. The anode portion and the cation exchange membrane define an anode chamber having a volume of between about 1 ?L and about 100 ?L and configured to receive an anolyte. The cathode portion and the cation exchange membrane define a cathode chamber having a volume of between about 1 ?L and about 100 ?L and configured to receive a catholyte. The microbial fuel cell is configured to achieve a Coulombic efficiency of at least 30% and/or a power density of at least of 4.7 ?W/cm2. The microbial fuel cell is a microelectromechanical system and can be fabricated in an automated production process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: Arizona Board of Regents, a body corporate of the State Arizona acting for and on behalf of Arizona
    Inventors: Junseok Chae, Bruce E. Rittmann, Seokheun Choi, Hyung-Sool Lee
  • Publication number: 20110287328
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a flexible fuel cell including, one or a plurality of cell sections, and a sealing sheet covering the cell section or sections, wherein the cell section has, at least, a pair of electrode sheets which form an anode and a cathode and at least one of which is accompanied by an oxidoreductase present at a surface thereof, a separator which is disposed between the electrode sheets and which has a proton-permeable membrane, a pair of current collectors which are electrically conductively connected respectively to the electrode sheets with a conductive adhesive, and a fuel reservoir section which is provided at such a position as to make contact with the anode at least and in which a fuel solution containing a fuel component is reserved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuji Fujita, Takaaki Nakagawa, Ryuhei Matsumoto, Hideyuki Kumita, Daisuke Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20110281183
    Abstract: A fuel cell includes: one or a plurality of cell sections having an electrode with an oxidoreductase present at a surface thereof; and a container in which the cell section or sections are contained; wherein the container is provided with a fuel solution pouring port through which to pour a fuel solution into the cell section or sections, and the fuel solution pouring port is oriented in a fixed direction at least at the time of pouring the fuel solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuhei Matsumoto, Taiki Sugiyama, Hideyuki Kumita, Hideki Sakai
  • Publication number: 20110281182
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fuel analyzing method for a fuel cell, including the steps of: measuring a physical property and/or an electric characteristic of a fuel to be used in a biofuel cell having an electrode with an oxidoreductase present at a surface thereof; and determining the quantity of an effective component which contributes to power generation in the fuel, from the physical property and/or the electric characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Sakai, Taiki Sugiyama, Hideyuki Kumita, Ryuhei Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20110274988
    Abstract: An electrochemical device having an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Qinbai Fan, Ronald Stanis
  • Publication number: 20110269029
    Abstract: A biofuel cell device for generating electrical current, comprising a fuel manifold, an anode assembly, a cathode assembly, a housing, and a controller is described. The anode assembly comprises at least one catalyst positioned for contact with fuel fluid in said fuel reservoir. The cathode assembly comprises at least one biocathode positioned for flow of an oxidant to the biocathode enzyme. The housing houses the manifold, anode assembly and cathode assembly. The controller controls the output of electrical current from the biofuel cell device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: AKERMIN, INC.
    Inventors: Wayne L. Gellett, Joshua Schumacher, Tracy L. Bucholz, David Bao Le, Douglas A. Busekrus, Shelley D. Minteer, David Trentmann
  • Patent number: 8048547
    Abstract: A fuel cell comprising an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, and a nanoporous membrane between the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, wherein the nanoporous membrane sequesters and isolates a microbe in the anode chamber. The nanoporous membrane allows nutrients to flow actively or passively from the cathode chamber to the anode chamber and can be modified by a thin film composite (TFC) to create a TFC nanofiltration membrane. The nanoporous membrane can have a pore size from about 100 nm to about 1000 nm. A method of making a fuel cell comprising configuring a nanoporous membrane between an anode chamber and a cathode chamber wherein the nanoporous membrane sequesters and isolates a microbe in the anode chamber and can be used to protect the cathode chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Bradley R. Ringeisen, Justin C. Biffinger
  • Publication number: 20110259815
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing man-made devices which have the properties and functions of biological membranes and membrane proteins, and to the structure of such devices. Briefly, in one aspect of the invention, natural or genetically engineered proteins are incorporated into a polymeric vesicle that is conjugated to a thread to form a vesicle-thread conjugate. The engineered protein is preferably a transmembrane protein embedded in the wall of the polymeric vesicle. The vesicle-thread conjugate is then formed into a membrane or thin fabric having a wide variety of inherent functionality, including the ability to selectively transport and/or filter compounds between fluids. By selecting proteins with specific properties, membranes can be fabricated with a defined functionality including molecular scale addressability via directed electrostatic, electromagnetic, and chemical forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Carlo D. Montemagno
  • Publication number: 20110250511
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a biofuel cell including a polymer gel reversibly swelling and contracting in response to variations in a property of a fuel solution making contact therewith, the polymer gel being on a surface of an electrode and/or in the inside of the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsunetoshi Samukawa, Taiki Sugiyama, Shuji Fujita, Yuichi Tokita, Hideki Sakai
  • Publication number: 20110250510
    Abstract: A biofuel cell intended to be immersed into a liquid medium containing a sugar and oxygen, wherein the anode includes an enzyme capable of catalyzing the oxidation of the sugar and a redox mediator of low redox potential capable of exchanging electrons with the anode enzyme and the cathode includes an enzyme capable of catalyzing the reduction of oxygen and a redox mediator of high redox potential capable of exchanging electrons with the cathode enzyme. Each of the anode and cathode electrodes is formed of a solid agglomerate of a conductive material mixed with the appropriate enzyme and redox mediator and is solid with an electrode wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: Universite Joseph Fourier
    Inventors: Philippe CINQUIN, Chantal GONDRAN, Fabien GIROUD, Serge COSNIER
  • Publication number: 20110251471
    Abstract: A protein is provided, including a glucose binding site, cyan fluorescent protein (CFP), and yellow fluorescent protein (YFP). The protein is configured such that binding of glucose to the glucose binding site causes a reduction in a distance between the CFP and the YFP. Substance monitoring apparatus (210) is also provided, including a semi-permeable barrier (212), adapted to be implanted in a body of a subject and to allow passage therethrough of a substance, while inhibiting passage therethrough of immune cells; and microorganisms (214), disposed within the semi-permeable barrier (212) so as to produce a measurable response to a level of the substance. A sensor (220) is adapted to measure the measurable response and not to measure a response of any mammalian cells that may be disposed within the semi-permeable barrier (212).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Yossi Gross, Ben-Tsion Williger, Tehila Hyman, Tova Neufeld
  • Publication number: 20110236770
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell that is high in performance capabilities of initial power generation and in volume power density, and produces a stable power. Between fixing plates, first and second cell portions are provided. The first cell portion includes an anode, a cathode, and a proton conductor, and the second cell portion includes an anode, a cathode, and a proton conductor. To a space formed by gas-liquid separation and permeable films, cathode spacers, and an anode spacer, a fuel solution is filled. The gas-liquid separation and permeable films are disposed between the fixing plate and the cathode, and between the fixing plate and the cathode. The cathode spacers are provided around the cathodes, respectively, and the anode spacer is provided between the anodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Sakai, Takaaki Nakagawa, Hideyuki Kumita, Hiroki Mita, Yoshihide Hosoda, Taiki Sugiyama, Ryuhei Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20110236769
    Abstract: An electrode for use in a microbial fuel cell comprising a porous substrate and nanostructure coating, for example, a carbon nanotube coating, is provided. The electrode can be configured as either a cathode or an anode, or both. Also provided is a microbial fuel cell comprising an anode compartment comprising an anode and a cathode compartment comprising a cathode and a metallic catalyst, wherein at least one of the anode and cathode comprises the porous substrate conformally coated with the nanostructure coating, and the cathode and anode are electrically connected. Methods for generating an electrical current with marine sediment or wastewater with the microbial fuel cell are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Xing Xie, Liangbing Hu, Yi Cui, Craig S. Criddle
  • Publication number: 20110236771
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a mutant gluconate dehydrogenase whose enzyme activity and/or heat resistance is a predetermined level or higher. The mutant gluconate dehydrogenase is made by an amino acid sequence obtained by deleting, substituting, adding or inserting one or plural amino acids in an amino acid sequence represented by sequence number 1. The mutant gluconate dehydrogenase displays enzyme activity which is equal to or higher than 120% of a wild-type gluconate dehydrogenase made by an amino acid sequence represented by sequence number 1, and/or displays residual enzyme activity after heat treatment under predetermined conditions, which is equal to or higher than 20% of the enzyme activity before the heat treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Yamaguchi, Yoshio Goto, Seiji Yamada, Yuichi Tokita
  • Publication number: 20110229776
    Abstract: Provided are an enzyme immobilizing method, a fuel cell and an electrode for the fuel cell which employ the enzyme immobilizing method, and a method for manufacturing the fuel cell and the electrode. The enzyme immobilizing method prevents reduction in enzyme activity when the enzyme is immobilized on the electrode, so as to make it possible to obtain a high catalyst current value. In the method for immobilizing an enzyme on the electrode used in the fuel cell, an enzyme variant with at least one amino acid residue being deleted, substituted, added, or inserted in a wild-type amino acid sequences is used as the enzyme, and the enzyme variant increases in activity through heat treatment. The immobilization is performed within a temperature range which makes it possible to increase the activity of the enzyme variant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kumita, Takaaki Nakagawa, Hideki Sakai, Masaya Kakuta, Yuichi Tokita
  • Publication number: 20110229775
    Abstract: A continuous system for growing algae, processing it and converting it into electricity, fuel and animal feed. The system utilizes an algae bioreactor which feeds harvested algae to a biomass extraction system which in turn directs a portion of the harvested algae to a microbial generator. The microbial generator converts the algae into electricity, water and nutrients. The biomass extraction system includes a dewatering device and a biomass dryer. The microbial generator in a preferred embodiment is a microbial fuel cell. Dry algae product used for animal feed, fuel, and the like is obtained from the output of the biomass dryer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: PHYCOSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony F. Michaels, David A. Caron, Kenneth H. Nealson
  • Patent number: 8012632
    Abstract: A microbial fuel cell comprising a cathode module, an anode module, a means for feeding source water to the anode module, and a means for feeling air to the source water after said anode module, wherein the source water is introduced in the anode module and discharged at the cathode module, a membrane is not used to transfer electrons, and the source water does not flow through a layer between the cathode and anode modules, such as glass wool or beads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventors: Donald W Crookes, Sr., Ciro DiMeglio
  • Publication number: 20110200889
    Abstract: A fuel cell with which in the case where an enzyme is immobilized to at least one of a cathode and an anode, sufficient buffer ability is able to be obtained even at the time of high output operation, ability inherent in the enzyme is able to be sufficiently demonstrated, and which has superior performance is provided. In a bio-fuel cell which has a structure in which a cathode and an anode are opposed to each other with an electrolyte layer containing a buffer substance in between, and in which an enzyme is immobilized to at least one of the cathode and the anode, a compound containing an imidazole ring is contained in the electrolyte layer as a buffer substance, and one or more acids selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, phosphoric acid, and sulfuric acid are further added.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kumita, Hiroki Mita, Yoshio Goto, Takaaki Nakagawa, Hideki Sakai, Ryuhei Matsumoto, Yuichi Tokita
  • Patent number: 7998625
    Abstract: A fuel cell has an anode and a cathode with anode enzyme disposed on the anode and cathode enzyme is disposed on the cathode. The anode is configured and arranged to electrooxidize an anode reductant in the presence of the anode enzyme. Likewise, the cathode is configured and arranged to electroreduce a cathode oxidant in the presence of the cathode enzyme. In addition, anode redox hydrogel may be disposed on the anode to transduce a current between the anode and the anode enzyme and cathode redox hydrogel may be disposed on the cathode to transduce a current between the cathode and the cathode enzyme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventor: Adam Heller
  • Patent number: 7998624
    Abstract: A fuel cell has an anode and a cathode with anode enzyme disposed on the anode and cathode enzyme is disposed on the cathode. The anode is configured and arranged to electrooxidize an anode reductant in the presence of the anode enzyme. Likewise, the cathode is configured and arranged to electroreduce a cathode oxidant in the presence of the cathode enzyme. In addition, anode redox hydrogel may be disposed on the anode to transduce a current between the anode and the anode enzyme and cathode redox hydrogel may be disposed on the cathode to transduce a current between the cathode and the cathode enzyme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventor: Adam Heller
  • Publication number: 20110171542
    Abstract: A fuel cell which can directly extract electric power from a polysaccharide, such as starch, is provided. A fuel electrode is formed by immobilizing with an immobilizer, on an electrode comprised of, e.g., carbon, an enzyme responsible for decomposing a polysaccharide into monosaccharides, an enzyme responsible for decomposing the monosaccharide formed, a coenzyme (e.g., NAD? or NADP+) which forms a reductant due to the oxidation reaction in the monosaccharide decomposition process, a coenzyme oxidase (e.g., diaphorase) for oxidizing the reductant of the coenzyme (e.g., NADH or NADPH), and an electron mediator (e.g., ACNQ or vitamin K3) for receiving electrons generated due to the oxidation of the coenzyme from the coenzyme oxidase and delivering the electrons to the electrode. The fuel cell comprises the fuel electrode and the air electrode that sandwich an electrolyte layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Sakai, Takashi Tomita, Atsushi Sato, Yuichi Tokita
  • Publication number: 20110171541
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell having a structure in which a cathode and an anode face each other with a proton conductor therebetween. In this fuel cell, an oxygen reductase or the like is immobilized on at least the cathode, and the cathode is composed of a material having pores therein such as porous carbon. In this fuel cell, the volume of water contained in the cathode is controlled to be 70% or less of the volume of the pores of the cathode, whereby a high current value can be stably obtained through optimization of the amount of moisture contained in the cathode when an enzyme is immobilized on at least the cathode. Also provided is a method for operating the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Takaaki Nakagawa, Hideki Sakai, Hideyuki Kumita, Masaya Kakuta
  • Publication number: 20110171543
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for generating electrical power during negative pressure therapy. The apparatus includes a fuel cell, comprising an anode element and a cathode element, arranged to collect biological fluid from a wound site to which a negative pressure is applied and electro-oxidize a component of the biological fluid at the anode element and/or electro-reduce a component of the biological fluid at the cathode element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: SMITH & NEPHEW PLC
    Inventor: Edward Yerbury Hartwell
  • Publication number: 20110143224
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a process that helps alleviate the pH gradient between anode and cathode compartments in any biological fuel cell or electrolytic cell configuration in which a pH gradient between anode and cathode is limiting the voltage efficiency. By providing acid to the cathode compartment in the form of CO2, the pH gradient is reduced and voltage efficiency and power output are increased. In one embodiment, carbon dioxide produced in the anode chamber is recycled to the cathode chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Bruce E. Rittmann, Cesar I. Torres, Hyung-Sool Lee
  • Publication number: 20110143223
    Abstract: A fuel cell is provided. The fuel cell includes at least one of a plant essential oil and a plant essential oil ingredient in an effective amount so as to function as a biological repellent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuichi Tokita, Hideki Sakai, Hideyuki Kumita, Ryuhei Matsumoto, Hiroki Mita, Taiki Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20110143225
    Abstract: A fuel cell is provided having a structure in which a cathode and an anode face each other with an electrolyte layer therebetween. The cathode includes an electrode on which an oxygen reductase and the like are immobilized, and the electrode has pores therein, water repellency is imparted to at least part of the surface of the electrode. Water repellency is imparted by forming a water-repellent agent on the surface of the electrode. The water-repellent agent includes a water-repellent material such as carbon powder and an organic solvent such as methyl isobutyl ketone that causes phase separation with water. When the electrode has pores therein, there are provided a fuel cell that stably provides a high current value and a method for manufacturing the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaaki Nakagawa, Hideyuki Kumita, Masaya Kakuta, Hideki Sakai, Hiroki Mita, Yoshio Goto
  • Publication number: 20110136021
    Abstract: A cathode for a fuel cell comprising a catalyst layer; a backing layer mounted to an aperture in a fuel chamber of said fuel cell; 1) wherein said catalyst layer is mounted to the backing layer on a face opposed to the aperture, so as to be in fluid communication with atmospheric oxygen in the case of microbial fuel cell; and 2) wherein said catalyst layer is mounted to the backing layer on a face opposed to the aperture, so as to be in fluid communication with water in the case of microbial electrolysis cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE
    Inventors: How Yong Ng, Olivier Patrick Lefebvre, Wai Keong Ooi
  • Publication number: 20110136022
    Abstract: There are provided a fuel cell and a production method therefor in which one or more types of enzymes or further coenzymes are enclosed in a micro space so that electrons can be efficiently extracted from a fuel such as glucose or the like by an enzyme reaction using the micro space as a reaction field, thereby producing electric energy, and in which the enzyme or further the coenzyme can be easily immobilized on an electrode. Enzymes 13 and 14 and a coenzyme 15 necessary for an enzyme reaction are enclosed in liposome 12, and the liposome 12 is immobilized on a surface of an electrode composed of porous carbon or the like to form an enzyme-immobilized electrode. An antibiotic 16 is bonded to a bimolecular lipid membrane constituting the liposome 12 to form one or more pores 17 permeable to glucose. The enzyme-immobilized electrode is used as, for example, a negative electrode of a biofuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuhei Matsumoto, Hideki Sakai, Yuichi Tokita, Shuji Fujita
  • Patent number: 7955759
    Abstract: A method for the deposition of metals in bacterial cellulose and for the employment of the metallized bacterial cellulose in the construction of fuel cells and other electronic devices is disclosed. The method for impregnating bacterial cellulose with a metal comprises placing a bacterial cellulose matrix in a solution of a metal salt such that the metal salt is reduced to metallic form and the metal precipitates in or on the matrix. The method for the construction of a fuel cell comprises placing a hydrated bacterial cellulose support structure in a solution of a metal salt such that the metal precipitates in or on the support structure, inserting contact wires into two pieces of the metal impregnated support structure, placing the two pieces of metal impregnated support structure on opposite sides of a layer of hydrated bacterial cellulose, and dehydrating the three layer structure to create a fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
    Inventors: Barbara R. Evans, Hugh M. O'Neill, Valerie Malyvanh Jansen, Jonathan Woodward
  • Patent number: 7955741
    Abstract: A fuel cell which can directly extract electric power from a polysaccharide, such as starch, is provided. A fuel electrode is formed by immobilizing with an immobilizer, on an electrode comprised of, e.g., carbon, an enzyme responsible for decomposing a polysaccharide into monosaccharides, an enzyme responsible for decomposing the monosaccharide formed, a coenzyme (e.g., NAD+ or NADP+) which forms a reductant due to the oxidation reaction in the monosaccharide decomposition process, a coenzyme oxidase (e.g., diaphorase) for oxidizing the reductant of the coenzyme (e.g., NADH or NADPH), and an electron mediator (e.g., ACNQ or vitamin K3) for receiving electrons generated due to the oxidation of the coenzyme from the coenzyme oxidase and delivering the electrons to the electrode. The fuel cell comprises the fuel electrode and the air electrode that sandwich an electrolyte layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Sakai, Takashi Tomita, Atsushi Sato, Yuichi Tokita
  • Publication number: 20110123876
    Abstract: A method for the production of a biofilm at the surface of an electrode in a liquid medium containing bacteria and a substrate for growth of the bacteria, in which a system of electrodes constituted of two electrodes, which are connected to a direct electric current source, is used, these two electrodes are placed in the medium and a predetermined and constant potential difference is applied between the electrodes, by virtue of which biofilms form at the surface of the electrodes. Resulting electrodes and biocells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Timothy Vogel, Jean-Michel Monier, Naoufel Haddour
  • Publication number: 20110117451
    Abstract: A fuel cell has an anode and a cathode with anode enzyme disposed on the anode and cathode enzyme is disposed on the cathode. The anode is configured and arranged to electrooxidize an anode reductant in the presence of the anode enzyme. Likewise, the cathode is configured and arranged to electroreduce a cathode oxidant in the presence of the cathode enzyme. In addition, anode redox hydrogel may be disposed on the anode to transduce a current between the anode and the anode enzyme and cathode redox hydrogel may be disposed on the cathode to transduce a current between the cathode and the cathode enzyme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventor: Adam Heller
  • Publication number: 20110117453
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel reformer which enables power generation to be actually performed even in the case of using very-safe familiar things such as food and drink and food scraps as a fuel of a biofuel cell. The fuel reformer is used for a fuel cell which generates power as an oxidation reduction reaction progresses using enzyme as a catalyst, and has: a primary fuel introduction unit for introducing a primary fuel; a fuel reforming unit communicating with the primary fuel introduction unit and reforming the primary fuel to a secondary fuel from which electrons can be emitted by an oxidation reduction reaction using enzyme as a catalyst; and a secondary fuel supplying unit communicating with the fuel reforming unit and supplying the secondary fuel to the fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuichi Tokita, Hideki Sakai, Hideyuki Kumita, Masaya Kakuta, Takaaki Nakagawa, Hiroki Mita
  • Publication number: 20110117452
    Abstract: A fuel cell has an anode and a cathode with anode enzyme disposed on the anode and cathode enzyme is disposed on the cathode. The anode is configured and arranged to electrooxidize an anode reductant in the presence of the anode enzyme. Likewise, the cathode is configured and arranged to electroreduce a cathode oxidant in the presence of the cathode enzyme. In addition, anode redox hydrogel may be disposed on the anode to transduce a current between the anode and the anode enzyme and cathode redox hydrogel may be disposed on the cathode to transduce a current between the cathode and the cathode enzyme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventor: Adam Heller
  • Patent number: 7943259
    Abstract: A system and method for improving electrochemical power sources through the dispensing encapsulation and dispersion into galvanic chambers of an electrochemical cell. Features of the method include the optimization of the concentration levels of chemicals involved in desired energy producing reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Andres M. Cardenas-Valencia, Norma Alcantar, Xiaoling Ding, Ryan G. Toomey, Larry Langebrake
  • Publication number: 20110104575
    Abstract: Biomass is gasified to generate syngas. The syngas is subjected to thermal cracking. Heat from syngas exiting a thermal cracking stage is transferred to syngas entering the thermal cracking stage. Biomass gasification apparatus may include a thermal pathway connected to transfer heat from an outlet of a thermal cracking process to an inlet of the thermal cracking process. Energy efficiency is enhanced. Syngas may be used as fuel for engines or fuel cells, burned to yield heat, or processed into a fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: NEXTERRA SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Clifford Low Bor Mui, Hendrick Vandergriendt, Dejan Sparica, Yan Li
  • Publication number: 20110104518
    Abstract: An improved benthic microbial fuel cell for generating energy at the interface of aquatic sediment and seawater includes an anode electrode embedded within the aquatic sediment, a cathode electrode positioned within the seawater and above the aquatic sediment, a rig for maintaining the relative positions of the anode and cathode electrodes, electrical leads extending from the anode and cathode electrodes to a load, wherein the anode electrode comprises a bottlebrush electrode residing within a permeable tube. The apparatus is easier to deploy than previously-described fuel cells, while being lighter, more durable, and generating greater power density. Also disclosed are methods of generating power from such an apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Leonard M. Tender
  • Patent number: 7927749
    Abstract: A microbial fuel cell includes a cell housing having first and second chambers. The first chamber is adapted for containing a fluid including a biomas. The second chamber is adapted for containing an oxygenated fluid. A cathode extends into the cell housing second chamber and an anode segment of an electrode assembly extends into the cell housing first chamber. The electrode assembly has multiple, substantially aligned, fibers. The outer surfaces of the fibers of the anode segment are adapted for receiving a biofilm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Swift, Michael A. Butler, Stanley J. Wallace
  • Patent number: 7922878
    Abstract: A system for hydrogen gas generation is provided according to the present invention which includes a hydrogen gas electrode assembly including a first anode in electrical communication with a first cathode; a microbial fuel cell electrode assembly including a second anode in electrical communication with a second cathode, the microbial fuel cell electrode assembly in electrical communication with the hydrogen gas electrode assembly for enhancing an electrical potential between the first anode and the first cathode. A single chamber housing contains the hydrogen gas electrode assembly at least partially in the interior space of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventor: Bruce Logan
  • Patent number: 7922891
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting and quantitating NADH/NAD+ and/or NADPH/NADP+ as well as NADHJNAD+ and/or NADPH/NADP+ dependent enzymes using a photoelectrochemical cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents
    Inventors: John Devens Gust, Jr., Ana L. Moore, Thomas A. Moore, Alicia Brune
  • Publication number: 20110065008
    Abstract: Provided is an enzyme electrode in which oxidation-reduction reactions proceed with an enzyme acting as a catalyst, and the enzyme is modified to increase affinity and/or reaction rate with a reaction substrate or an electron transfer mediator by adding or inserting at least one codon encoding a particular amino acid residue to or into a base sequence encoding the enzyme, and is immobilized. Since the oxidation-reduction reactions on the electrode proceed highly efficiently, the enzyme electrode can cause to increase the obtained output of electric energy and thus can be suitably used in all types of fuel cells, biosensors, and electronic apparatuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaaki Nakagawa, Hideyuki Kumita, Yoshio Goto, Hideki Sakai, Masaya Kakuta