Available Technology
Robust Biological Conversion of Methane to Electricity
Technology:
Direct Biological conversion of methane to electricity without combustion by a microbial fuel cell
Markets Addressed
The methane MFC enables a user to generate electricity from organic matter without the hazards and pollution associated with traditional combustion. The research and art captured here represents a significant and commercially viable advance in the Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) arena. This methane MFC can enable landfills, sewage treatment plants, oil companies and gas refineries to harness energy from methane that is otherwise flared off due to impurities or cost of purification and storage.
Innovations and Advantages
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are devices that generate electricity by harnessing the power of microbial metabolism to break down a variety of compounds to generate electricity. To date, MFC research has focused on MFCs that use soluble fuels, with few studies examining the use of volatiles in fueling MFCs. Methane is an abundant, highly reduced, but chemically stable compound that is present to varying degrees in natural and industrial settings [Note that methane is quite inert at room temperature and pressure, and is only broken down by combustion, with the exception of microbial oxidation]. This technology harness energy from methane without combustion by relying on the microbiological capacity to oxidize methane at typical environmental conditions. This is a marked improvement from solid-oxide fuel cells that are subject to poisoning by many of the compounds that co-occur with methane.
Additional Information
Intellectual Property Status: Patent(s) pending
Please see related Harvard case 2763, General MFC Technology
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Inventor(s):
Girguis, Peter Riad
Reimers, Clare E.
Categories:
For further information, please contact:
Sam Liss, Director of Business Development
(617) 495-4371
Reference Harvard Case #3248