Two Bacteria Better Than One in Cellulose-fed Fuel Cell

No currently known bacteria that allow termites and cows to digest **cellulose**, can power a microbial fuel cell and those **bacteria** that can produce electrical current cannot eat **cellulose**. But careful pairing of bacteria can create a fuel cell that consumes cellulose and produces **electricity**, according to a team of Penn State researchers. "We have gotten **microbial fuel** cells to work with all kinds of biodegradable substances including glucose, wastewater and other organic wastes," says John M. Regan, assistant professor of environmental engineering. "But, cellulose is tricky. There is no known microbe that can degrade cellulose and reduce the anode. "We overcame this by putting together a microbe that can degrade and ferment cellulose and an anode-reducing bacterium that can live off the **fermentation products**," he says. Microbial fuel cells work through the action of bacteria that can pass electrons to an anode. The electrons flow from the anode through a wire to the cathode, producing an electric current. In the process, the bacteria consume organic matter in the water or sediment.... Whole article on "Bio":[ http://www.bio.com/newsfeatures/newsfeatures_research.jhtml?cid=32100001]

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