Bacterial cleaning batteries

2002/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Mikrobiologia
• Ingurumena

Researchers at Oregon State University (USA) have detected micro-organisms that produce energy by digesting organic waste. Geobacteraceae family bacteria extract electrons from marine carbon sediments to obtain the carbon dioxide essential for their metabolism. They usually leave electrons alone in the iron of the seabed or in mineral sulfates. But they can leave them exactly the same on the electrode of an electrical circuit. Thus, leaving an electrode in the sediments of the seabed and the other in the surface water, an electric pile is obtained.

Researchers have also found that freshwater bacteria in the same family do the same and can grow in oil-contaminated aquifers or sewage. In this way, in addition to degrading the pollutant, they can produce some electricity.