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US researchers have developed a new electrical device that can improve fuel cell technology by turning carbon dioxide (CO2) into potential biofuel. By using the electrical device, the researchers gave small jolts of electricity to single-celled microorganisms known as archea, which helped to convert CO2 in to methane. Methane can be used as boifuel to charge cells or can be stored for later use.
According to a professor at Pennsylvania State University, Bruce Logan, the experiment revealed that by using a very specific microorganism, electrical current can be converted directly into methane. He stated that the research will lead to the conversion of electricity into potential biofuels. Methane-producing archea are called methanogens. This type of microorganism help in decomposing organic matter. Methanogens along with termites help to digest wood pulp.
The microorganisms called archea are more primitive than bacteria. Archea do not have a nucleus and other cellular machinery. They are 80 percent efficient at conserving the electrical energy into the chemical bonds of methane. The American research team is trying to use the methanogen to store energy generated by power sources such as wind, solar or tidal energy.
