Electrohydrogenesis
Encyclopedia
Electrohydrogenesis or biocatalyzed electrolysis is the name given to a process for generating hydrogen
gas from organic matter being decomposed by bacteria. This process uses a modified fuel cell
to contain the organic matter and water. A small amount , 0.2 - 0.8 V
of electricity is used, the original article reports an overall energy efficiency of 288% can be achieved (this is computed relative to the amount of electricity used, waste heat lowers the overall efficiency). This work was reported by Cheng and Logan
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. With an average atomic weight of , hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element, constituting roughly 75% of the Universe's chemical elemental mass. Stars in the main sequence are mainly...
gas from organic matter being decomposed by bacteria. This process uses a modified fuel cell
Fuel cell
A fuel cell is a device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent. Hydrogen is the most common fuel, but hydrocarbons such as natural gas and alcohols like methanol are sometimes used...
to contain the organic matter and water. A small amount , 0.2 - 0.8 V
Volt
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
of electricity is used, the original article reports an overall energy efficiency of 288% can be achieved (this is computed relative to the amount of electricity used, waste heat lowers the overall efficiency). This work was reported by Cheng and Logan
See also
- Microbial Fuel CellMicrobial fuel cellA microbial fuel cell or biological fuel cell is a bio-electrochemical system that drives a current by mimicking bacterial interactions found in nature....
- BiohydrogenBiohydrogenBiohydrogen is defined as hydrogen produced biologically, most commonly by algae and bacteria. Biohydrogen is a potential biofuel obtainable from both cultivation and waste organic materials.-Introduction:...
- Fermentative hydrogen productionFermentative hydrogen productionFermentative hydrogen production is the fermentative conversion of organic substrate to biohydrogen manifested by a diverse group of bacteria using multi enzyme systems involving three steps similar to anaerobic conversion. Dark fermentation reactions do not require light energy, so they are...
- ElectromethanogenesisElectromethanogenesisElectromethanogenesis is a form of electrofuel production where methane is produced by direct biological conversion from electrical current and carbon dioxide. The reduction process is carried out in a microbial electrolysis cell...
- Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide