BIOCHEMICAL FUEL CELLS

Abstract

Investigation of the cultural and physiological behavior of the five biochemical systems previously selected for study was completed. The effects of pH and temperature on the activity of urease, cell-free extracts of E. coli and B. pasteurii are reported. Current-potential data for all five biochemical systems (glucose Cl. butyricum, glucose-cell-free extracts of E. coli, urea-urease, urea-B. pasteurii, leucine-L amino acid oxidase) are included. Studies were initiated on the electrochemical behavior of the biochemical reaction products, independent of the biological phase, for those systems where the products are isolable. Anodic current-potential curves of the urea hydrolysis product, ammonium carbonate, were obtained as a function of ammonium carbonate concentration and as a function of ionic strength of the anolyte. A simple method of improving biological electrode performance by physically confining the biological phase at the surface of the electron carrier is discussed. Some preliminary current-potential data are reported on the urea-B. pasteurii system using this method.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1962
Accession Number
AD0403822

Entities

People

  • J. Brake
  • W. Momyer

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Amino Acids
  • Carbonates
  • Chemical Compounds
  • Chemical Kinetics
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Current Density
  • Electrochemical Reactions
  • Electrodes
  • Electrons
  • Fuel Cells
  • Hydrolysis
  • Measurement
  • Military Research
  • Redox Indicators
  • Systems Biology

Readers

  • Electrochemical Engineering/ Fuel Cell Technologies
  • Microbial Pathology

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Microelectronics