Novel Geobacter Strain Capable of Enhanced Current Production for Microbial Fuel Cells
Derek R. Lovley, Ph.D.
Geobacter sulfurreducens is considered to be a leading candidate for use in microbial fuel cells (MFC). Geobacter clearly outperforms organisms such as Shewanella and Rhodopherax in growth characteristics and the ability to produce electric current. However, Geobacter-based microbial fuel cells still do not produce sufficient powder densities for practical applications. UMass microbiologist Derek Lovley and his colleagues have developed a novel Geobacter strain "Neo" that has been specifically adapted to a fuel cell environment. By maintaining a high selection pressure in the microbes' environment, the original wild type strain was coerced to adapt by developing new characteristics appropriate for commercial MFC operation, including a 600% increase in current production.
• High power and current densities: 3.9 W/m2 and 7.6 A/m2 • 600% increase in current production compared to wild type • Better adherence to surfaces • Reduction in time to current production of 5 days to 1 day
Derek R. Lovley, Ph.D., is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Dr. Lovley’s lab group has engineered several novel strains of Geobacter species to address a growing demand for alternatives to traditional technologies. A pioneer in his field, Dr. Lovley has collaborated with industry and secured millions of dollars in grants for his research. He has authored more than 400 articles, is cited in tens of thousands of publications, and has received media attention from popular publications like National Geographic and Time. Research interests include in-situ groundwater bioremediation, microbial fuel cells, directed and natural evolution of anaerobic respiration, microbial electrosynthesis, and extracellular electron transfer mechanisms.
Available for Licensing or Research Collaboration
UMA 09-02
Patent U.S. 9,074,198 issued
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