GENERATING POWER FROM MUD

GENERATING POWER FROM MUD

Introduction

Sources of conventional power supplies have been dwelling very fast and also becoming more and more expensive. If this is the situation, we should go in search of non-conventional sources of energy. Due to this situation at present, we have developed different non-conventional energies like wind, solar energy etc…but there is no situation to store them or use effectively. This concept of energy development from non-conventional sources led to the development of power from mud. In order to know how power is generated from mud, we need to know about microorganisms called Geobacters, which are visible only through microscope. They essentially eat the mud organic material such as plant leaves and twigs and release electrons. Geobacters eat the contaminant out of mud and do it faster when they have a battery to dump their electrons on. Geobacters can grow in environments lacking oxygen by using the iron naturally present in soil, in place of oxygen. This new research demonstrates that Geobacters can also substitute an unnatural substance, such as an electrode, for the iron.This new process produces carbondioxide but in smaller amounts per watt than the excisting ways of generating power from fossil fuels. In this the bacteria pass on the electrons for iron compounds. But in the laboratory, the bacteria have been guided to transfer electron to an electrode as an electric current.
                                                            This method requires water and sediment, mason jars, ordinary electrical wiring and sterile graphite electrode to recreate the mechanics of a simple sediment battery. Add a layer of common mud to water in the jars. Put one graphite electrode in the mud and another in the overlaying water. The resulting current was strong enough to activate a bulb or a simple computer. A large number of Geobacteria species known as Desulfuromonas acetoxidants(D.acetoxidans) were found at the anode end of the primitive batteries. When they are destroyed the D.acetoxidans in the sediment, the current is stopped. In this mud a community of micro-organisms co-operate to break down larger, more complex organic compounds to acetate. Geobacters then transfer the electrons from the acetate to the electrode generating the electrical energy. Some Geobacters can also convert toxic organic compounds, such as toluene to electricity. Bacterium a member of a family of organisms that can remove dissolved uranium from ground water, possesses extra ordinary capabilities to transfer electrons and reduce metal ions as part of its energy generating metabolism. Reduction is a chemical process during which electrons are added to metal ions. As a result, the metals becomes less soluble in water and precipitates into solids which are more easily removed. Small charges of electricity are also created through reduction process. There are proteins that facilitate electrons and metal reduction during the organisms energy metabolism. The presence of c-type cytochrome genes, the most and the greatest variety found so far in the bacterial species- are thought to give G.sulfurreducens a significant higher capacity and flexibility to reduce metals or create electricity.