The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 22, 2015
Filed:
Jun. 23, 2009
Applicants:
Bruce E. Rittmann, Tempe, AZ (US);
César I. Torres, Tempe, AZ (US);
Hyung-sool Lee, Waterloo, CA;
Inventors:
Assignee:
Arizona Board of Regents for and on Behalf of Arizona State University, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01M 8/16 (2006.01); H01M 8/04 (2006.01); C25B 1/02 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H01M 8/16 (2013.01); C25B 1/02 (2013.01); Y02E 60/527 (2013.01);
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a process that helps alleviate the pH gradient between anode and cathode compartments in any biological fuel cell or electrolytic cell configuration in which a pH gradient between anode and cathode is limiting the voltage efficiency. By providing acid to the cathode compartment in the form of CO, the pH gradient is reduced and voltage efficiency and power output are increased. In one embodiment, carbon dioxide produced in the anode chamber is recycled to the cathode chamber.