Experimental steps of microbial power generation (operable in laboratory)

The new power supply mode of microbial power generation in the future 2006-10-071:09 Author: anonymous biological channel Source: Beijing Science and Technology News hits:

A few days ago, some scientists suggested that the latest research found that bovine gastric juice can generate electricity equivalent to 1 battery, and the electricity comes from microorganisms in bovine gastric juice. /news/news/show.php？ id=26497

In fact, it is not novel to use microorganisms to generate electricity. Many countries are committed to developing microbial batteries, the principle of which is to convert chemical energy produced by microorganisms into electrical energy.

At present, biogas power generation, which is widely used, is also one of the indirect applications of the principle of microbial power generation (microbial decomposition of garbage to produce biogas, and then use biogas to generate electricity). Using microorganisms to generate electricity has low cost, little environmental pollution and wide application fields. Therefore, researchers from all over the world have been attracted to conduct in-depth research on this subject. Biological excreta, termite gastric juice and cow gastric juice are all used by scientists to explore the possibility of microbial power generation. Microbial power generation, which has high hopes, is gradually showing great potential.

Microbes in bovine gastric juice can generate electricity.

According to a recent research report published by the Royal Spanish Chemical Society, the bacteria contained in the gastric juice of cattle can generate electricity during the process of decomposing plant fibers, which is similar to the electricity of the No.5 battery.

Ruminants such as cattle and sheep have two stomachs, and the first stomach of cattle is called rumen. The gastric juice secreted by rumen contains a large number of microorganisms. When dairy cows eat food containing a lot of plant fiber, microorganisms in gastric juice will decompose plant fiber and produce electrons during the decomposition process. Scientists use needles and glass sterilization boxes to export the gastric juice of cattle, and simulate the digestion process of cattle, and successfully generate electricity by using microorganisms in gastric juice. Microorganisms contained in the rumen gastric juice of half a liter of cattle can generate about 600 millivolts of electricity. This microorganism also exists in cow dung and can directly provide energy for fuel cells. Fuel rechargeable batteries made of cow dung can generate 300 to 400 millivolts of electricity per battery.

Coincidentally, microorganisms in termite gastric juice can also convert cellulose into energy. Microorganisms in termites' stomachs can also decompose cellulose and produce substances such as hydrogen and alcohol by fermentation. Alcohol can be used as a substitute for gasoline.

If microorganisms in organisms can be successfully applied to power generation, it will undoubtedly bring great benefits to energy-poor human society. However, scientists also claim that at present, there are few modes of using microorganisms in organisms to generate electricity, and when it can be put into commercial operation is still far away.

Microorganisms turn space "dung" into space "electricity"

At present, the manned spacecraft is in the sky, and the astronauts' excrement will be brought back to earth during space flight. If one day humans can set foot on Mars, it will take four years to travel back and forth between Mars and the Earth. It is roughly estimated that during this period, six astronauts will "make" more than 6 tons of excrement and garbage. What should we do with these wastes?

A few days ago, scientists are studying the use of "mud bacteria" microorganisms to turn these space junk into treasure. That is, "mud bacteria" microorganisms "eat" human excrement and generate electricity.

The specific method is to put this "mud bacteria" microorganism into a specially designed fuel cell. The fuel of this battery is not hydrogen, but human excrement. "Mud bacteria" decompose electrons after swallowing excrement, and then the electrons are transferred to one pole of the battery. When the electrons flow to the other pole of the battery, they will collide with the current.

But at present, this ideal space dung battery has not yet flown into space. Scientists say that the current difficulty lies in how to transfer the electrons generated by mud bacteria to the battery. If this idea can be realized, it will benefit not only astronauts, but also human excrement.

Three Problems Puzzling the Application of Microbial Power Generation

Can microbial power generation become a new power supply mode in human society in the near future? Jiangning, a researcher at the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, believes that although the research on microbial batteries is very hot at present, it is unlikely that human society will use microorganisms to generate electricity in the foreseeable future. Jiangning said that at present, there are three major problems that plague the application of microbial power generation.

If we want to put the power generation mode into commercial operation, we must first generate enough electricity, but at present, the electricity generated by microorganisms is very small. Secondly, the process of generating electricity should be simple. The regenerated working environment should be stable, such as not affected by temperature changes.

However, the research on power generation by microorganisms is still in the laboratory working environment. Take microbial power generation in bovine gastric juice as an example. Microbes in bovine gastric juice can only survive in such a complex environment. In addition, microorganisms in bovine gastric juice can be converted into electric energy through huge utensils and constant and unique conditions in the laboratory. How to put such a huge and complicated process into commercial operation requires too much research.

There are no ready-made experimental steps. You can make up a hypothetical experiment according to the latest research results, if you allow!

The specific method is to put this "mud bacteria" microorganism into a specially designed fuel cell. The fuel of this battery is not hydrogen, but human excrement. "Mud bacteria" decompose electrons after swallowing excrement, and then the electrons are transferred to one pole of the battery. When the electrons flow to the other pole of the battery, they will collide with the current.

Can you refer to these and make them up yourself? No, you don't want to do this experiment by yourself!