Bacterial Robotics, a synthetic biology company developing microscopic BactoBots, has been awarded a US patent for its Microbial Fuel Cell.
Traditional microbial fuel cells seek to generate electricity. However, they fall short in both power density and robustness for industrial use. The invention within the new patent overcomes these bottlenecks.
The breakthroughs are due to the development of specific BactoBots. BactoBots can be thought of as organism-based programmable microscopic robots.
With this key patent in place, Bacterial Robotics’ first subsidiary, Pilus Energy, is preparing to deploy the first waste-water-to-value BactoBots, known as RemediBots and GalvaniBots.
RemediBots are added to wastewater with the goal of cleaning the wastewater and producing economically important gases or chemicals.
The GalvaniBot powers electrogenic bioreactors (EBR). An EBR can be considered a next generation microbial fuel cell.
GalvaniBots operate metabolically. This is a different approach than fermentation, digestion, and other legacy technologies used in microbial fuel cells.
The un-optimised power density of a GalvaniBot-powered EBR reached five Watts per meter squared (5W/m2). The technology has very wide operating parameters including significant ranges of temperature and pH.
The result is a robust, networkable EBR platform that harnesses the GalvaniBot to clean wastewater, generate usable electricity, and produce hydrogen gas.
Watch the video (below): Unique bacteria metabolise organic materials and release hydrogen gas and electricity, but no carbon dioxide.
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