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April 30, 2010

Microbial Electrolysis Cell

Researchers have designed a microbial electrolysis cell in which bacteria break up acetic acid (a product of plant waste fermentation) to produce hydrogen gas with a very small electric input from an outside source. Hydrogen can then be used for fuel cells or as a fuel additive in vehicles that now run on natural gas.

This image accompanied NSF press release, "Microbes Churn Out Hydrogen at Record Rate."

Credit: Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation


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