Science Daily March 5, 2019
A team of researchers in the US (Washington State University, Montana State University) developed a battery-operated potentiostat that is capable of controlling the potential of a working electrode and can be deployed and operated remotely, allowing the enrichment of electrochemically active microorganisms on electrodes in their native environment. The device was tested in four alkaline hot springs with a temperature ranging from 45 οC to 91 οC and a relatively constant pH of 8.5–8.7. Analysis showed a change in microbial community structure after 32 days of polarization. The impact of polarization was most substantial on the electrodes that generated the highest cathodic and anodic currents. As these bacteria pass their electrons into metals or other solid surfaces, they can produce a stream of electricity that can be used for low-power applications…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
Pools of hot water like this are the home to bacteria that can eat and breathe electricity. Credit: WSU