BIOHYBRID FUEL CELL AND METHOD

摘要

A biohybrid dual chamber fuel cell and method for producing sustainable electrical power from unprocessed biomass include a microbial fuel cell (MFC) for processing the biomass into a clean fuel, a direct alcohol fuel cell (DAFC) operatively connected to the microbial fuel cell for oxidizing the clean fuel to generate electrical power and a separation barrier in the form of a reverse osmosis membrane disposed intermediate the MFC and the DAFC which prevents the diffusion of impurities from the MFC into the DAFC and the return flow of oxidation by-products from the DAFC into the MFC.

主权项

1. A biohybrid fuel cell comprising:
a microbial fuel cell having a fermentation chamber adapted to produce a clean fuel from an unprocessed biomass source; a direct alcohol fuel cell operatively connected to the microbial fuel cell, the direct alcohol fuel cell including an anode chamber, which is adapted to receive the clean fuel from the MFC/fermentation chamber; a separation barrier disposed intermediate the MFC/fermentation chamber in the microbial fuel cell and the anode chamber in the direct alcohol fuel cell; and a membrane electrode assembly positioned in the anode chamber, the membrane electrode assembly being adapted to generate electrical power by oxidation of the clean fuel produced by the microbial fuel cell or fermentation chamber.