Microbes Churn Out Hydrogen at Record Rate

FiReaNGeL writes to mention that Penn State Researchers have improved on their original microbial electrolysis cell design bringing the resulting system up to better than 80 percent efficiency when considering all energy inputs and outputs. "By tweaking their design, improving conditions for the bacteria, and adding a small jolt of electricity, they increased the hydrogen yield to a new record for this type of system. 'We achieved the highest hydrogen yields ever obtained with this approach from different sources of organic matter, such as yields of 91 percent using vinegar (acetic acid) and 68 percent using cellulose,' said Logan. In certain configurations, nearly all of the hydrogen contained in the molecules of source material converted to usable hydrogen gas, an efficiency that could eventually open the door to bacterial hydrogen production on a larger scale."

Comments

BLOCK/BAN THIS ARTICLE

[LiquidCoooled]

Quick, block and ban this article before the boss sees it.
If he had his way he will fill the water cooler with vinegar to try to increase our productivity.
(If you are working at EA I'm afraid its too late)

Re:BLOCK/BAN THIS ARTICLE

[Penguinshit]

As long as that vinegar is Chateau Petrus, I'm all for it.

This is Slavery!

[eln]

This is absolutely horrible, and I demand it be stopped! These researchers are advocating the mass enslavement of innocent microbes. These microbes will be forced to work nonstop on Hydrogen production from the moment they are born to the moment they are finally literally worked to death. Multiple generations of microbes will toil endlessly in these bacterial concentration camps, with no relief in sight!

We must stop the senseless abuse of microbial rights! We must fight for the smallest and most vulnerable among us! Stop this horror now!

Re:This is Slavery!

[Jeremi]

These microbes will be forced to work nonstop on Hydrogen production from the moment they are born to the moment they are finally literally worked to death

Relax, dude. We've fixed them up with an excellent simulation of their society at the peak of its development. They'll go happily about their simulated lives, and never know they are just sitting in a vat generating power for us.

My personal yield...

[Penguinshit]

I have a high hydrocarbon yield from beer. Does that help?

Cabbage consumption increases yield dramatically!

Oh great.

[Anonymous Coward]

Just what we need. An economy powered by bacteria farts.

Re:288 percent increase over electricity input

[mikael]

What worries me is where all the H20 from the hydrocarbon burning process is ending up, never mind the CO2

In Soviet Russia

[Degrees]

In America, researchers apply a jolt of electricity to their wastewater bacteria. In Soviet Russia, the brew tases you! Don't Tase me, brew!

Re:288 percent increase over electricity input

[Waffle Iron]

What worries me is where all the H20 from the hydrocarbon burning process is ending up, never mind the CO2

It's ending up in our lakes, rivers and streams! Why aren't more people focused on this crisis??

Conservation of energy?

[AJWM]

bringing the resulting system up to better than 80 percent efficiency when considering all energy inputs and outputs. (emphasis added)

So like, dudes, where does that other 20% of the energy go? The Phantom Zone? No, wait, that'd be an energy output too.

Maybe the system just gets heavier.

Re:Uhm

[fain0v]

Bacterial maintenance is really quite easy. I have been maintaining my own methane producing bacteria for decades now.

Improving condition

[hackingbear]

By tweaking their design, improving conditions for the bacteria, and adding a small jolt of electricity , ..., such as yields of 91 percent using vinegar (acetic acid) and 68 percent using cellulose,' Next, the researchers plan to further improve microbes' working conditions by giving them free cokes and coffee instead of vinegar in order to produce more yields. Finally, to maximize outputs, they must find a way to remove the music-playing iPods and the flat-panels that display slashdot pages from the microbes' office cubes -- without causing a strike; as a side benefit, the electricity is not needed anymore.

This all sounds just peachy ...

[HW_Hack]

until the microbes form a union. Numbering in the Bazillions they will have huge political clout !