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09:01
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Published on: April 19, 2018
Electrode-reducing microorganisms that harvest energy from marine sediments
Daniel R Bond1, Dawn E Holmes, Leonard M Tender
1Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|January 19, 2002
Summary
Scientists harvested electricity from marine sediments using graphite electrodes. Microorganisms, specifically Geobacteraceae, utilized the electrode as an electron acceptor for energy, enabling growth and suggesting bioremediation applications.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Environmental Science
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Marine sediments contain organic matter and distinct redox zones.
- Microbial communities play a role in biogeochemical processes within sediments.
- Extracting energy from natural environments is an area of active research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential for harvesting electricity from marine sediments.
- To identify microorganisms involved in energy harvesting from electrodes.
- To explore the use of microbial processes for bioremediation.
Main Methods:
- Deployment of graphite anodes in anoxic marine sediment zones.
- Connection of anodes to graphite cathodes in overlying aerobic water.
- Analysis of microbial communities colonizing the electrodes.
- Assessment of microbial growth and energy conservation linked to electrode interaction.
Main Results:
- Specific enrichment of Geobacteraceae microorganisms on energy-harvesting anodes.
- Demonstration that Geobacteraceae can oxidize organic compounds using electrodes as electron acceptors.
- Confirmation that these microorganisms conserve energy for growth via this process.
Conclusions:
- Marine sediments can serve as a source for electricity generation through microbial electrochemical processes.
- Geobacteraceae are key players in the bioelectrochemical system, utilizing electrodes for energy.
- This technology offers a dual benefit of energy harvesting and bioremediation of organic contaminants.
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