EXPERIMENTS WITH A MAGNESIUM SEAWATER CELL INCORPORATING A BACTERIAL COLONIZED CATHODE
Abstract
A magnesium seawater cell, with its cathode covered by a colony of special bacteria, yields a higher voltage at a given current density than when bacteria are not present. This has been observed for current densities below one ampere per square foot. Volt-ampere characteristics were measured to determine how much the voltage performance improved, and if possible, why. On the basis of these tests, it is possible to conclude that the bacteria act to lessen cathodic polarization, and therefore the equivalent internal resistance of the cell, to an extent dependent on the hydrogen uptake coincident to their normal metabolism. A five-month life test in a clean, shallow oceanic environment revealed that the cell shut down to zero output, due apparently to calcareous deposits formed from two distinct actions: the cell's normal electrochemical process and superposed action by film-forming organisms.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 04, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0423615
Entities
People
- B. J. Wilson
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory