University of Massachusetts

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Kelly P Nevin

Derek R Lovley

Minjuan Zhang

Hongfei Jia

Hana Yi

Yang Tan

Ramesh Adhikari

Nikhil Malvankar

Joy Ward

Improved electrically conductive pili were generated from a natural pilus protein from the microorganism. Substituting a tryptophan for the phenylalanine at position F51 and a tryptophan for the tyrosine at position Y57 of the pilus monomer substantially increased the conductivity of the pili and reduced their diameter to 1.5 nm. Substantial improvements in conductivity were also achieved by substituting an additional tyrosine, histidine, and phenylalanine in the pilus monomer to mimic the monomer of, but the pili retained the typicalwild-type diameter of 3 nm.

Microbial nanowires with increased conductivity and reduced diameters

The invention provides systems and methods for generating organic compounds using carbon dioxide as a source of carbon and electrical current as an energy source. In one embodiment, a reaction cell is provided having a cathode electrode and an anode electrode that are connected to a source of electrical power, and which are separated by a permeable membrane. A biological film is provided on the cathode. The biological film comprises a bacterium that can accept electrons and that can convert carbon dioxide to a carbon-bearing compound and water in a cathode half-reaction. At the anode, water is decomposed to free molecular oxygen and solvated protons in an anode half-reaction. The half-reactions are driven by the application of electrical current from an external source. Compounds that have been produced include acetate, butanol, 2-oxobutyrate, propanol, ethanol, and formate.

Microbial production of multi-carbon chemicals and fuels from water and carbon dioxide using electric current

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of producing genetically modified strains of electricigenic microbes that are specifically adapted for the production of electrical current in microbial fuel cells, as well as strains produced by such methods and fuel cells using such strains. In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides genetically modified strains ofand methods of using such strains.

Geobacteraceae strains and methods

An aerobic microbial fuel cell anode electrode, a fuel cell using the anode, and methods of use. An anode electrode having a conductive exterior surface and having sufficient porosity to allow a fuel-bearing liquid flowing in a cavity within the anode to escape and to supply fuel to a biologically active microbe film grown on the exterior of the anode is situated in the fuel cell. When operated in an aerobic environment, such as water, the anode and a cathode can supply electrical power to a load without the need for a semi-permeable membrane between the anode and the cathode. Several embodiments in which the anode electrode is machined from a graphite block or cylinder are described. Conditions for growing the biologically active film and for operating the fuel cell are described.

Aerobic microbial fuel cell

A microbial fuel cell is provided according to embodiments of the present invention including electricigenic microbes containing at least about 0.075 milligrams of protein per square centimeter of the anode surface area. In particular embodiments, the electricigenic microbes are disposed on the anode such that at least about 90% of the portion of the anode surface area has a layer of electricigenic microbes, the layer greater than about 1 micron in thickness. This thickness is indicative of the layer including at least a first stratum of electricigenic microbes in direct contact with the anode and a second stratum of electricigenic microbes in direct contact with the first stratum such that the second stratum is in indirect contact with the anode.

Growing community of inventors

Pelham, MA, United States of America

Kelly P Nevin