Design and Development of an Enzymatic Fuel Cell Using Enzyme Embedded Electrodes

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Design and Development of an Enzymatic Fuel Cell
Using Enzyme Embedded Electrodes

• Research Experience for Teachers
• Nevin Longenecker
• John Adams High School

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The PURPOSES of this
investigation were to

• examine and evaluate variables associated with
  increasing the efficiency of an enzymatic fuel
  cell
• design and construct a prototype enzymatic fuel
  cell for classroom use based on the previous
  findings.
• describe in an educational science journal an
  inexpensive fuel cell which could be easily
  constructed and used in a classroom. The
  operation of such a cell would have diverse
  applications in many sciences and would integrate
  mathematical principles of calculus, statistics,
  algebra and geometry.

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Advantages of Fuel Cells vs.
Internal Combustion Engines

• Unlimited supply of fuel
• No reliance on foreign oil
• Little or no pollutants
• Much higher energy conversion
• No moving parts
• No noise

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Fuel Cell with PEM Membrane
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Types of Catalysts

• 1. Metals-Pt, Ru, Sn, Au
• 2. Biocatalysts-enzymes within microbes
• 2. Biocatalysts-enzymes in solution
• 3. Biocatalysts-enzymes embedded on
• electrodes

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Sites of Catalysts
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Mediator Shuttling Electrons
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PEB Investigation Trends

• 1. Optimum power output developed in 2hrs
• Whole Ecoli cells PEB enzyme solution
• 0.2 watts/m2 2.1 watts/m2
• 2. Prolonged power output at 24 hrs
• Whole Ecoli cells PEB enzyme solution
• 0.14 watts/m2 2.05 watts/m2
• 3. Prolonged optimum power output of PEB
  continued for 5 days.

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Proposed Advantages of Enzyme Use

• 1. Elimination of metabolism of
• substrate by bacteria
• 2. Immediate contact of enzyme with
• substrate.
• 3. Elimination of possible hazardous
• types of bacteria.

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Procedures

• Factors affecting enzymatic fuel cell
  efficiency were measured and evaluated using
  several differently designed biofuel cells.
• Types and spacing of electrodes
• Enzyme concentration in anode solution
• Use of catalysts on electrodes
• Use and combinations of electron mediators
• Individual and mixtures of enzymes
• Substrate concentrations

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PEB Mixture

• Amylase
• Diastase
• Lipase
• Dehyrogenase
• Catalase
• (Conc. 510,000 enzymes/ml)

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Electrode Spacing
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Role of Electron Mediators with PEB in
0.05M Dextrose Solution
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Electrode Current Density
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Role of NADH Q10 with Cellulase in 0.01
Cellulose Solution
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Design of the Prototype Cell

• Anode and cathode chambers (70ml) are made of pvc
  fittings and clear poly.
• Plexiglass sandwich center section secures the
  PEM membrane
• Nafion serves as the proton membrane
• Carbon rods and carbon cloth are used as
  electrodes
• Can be interfaced with Vernier software and a
  laptop.

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Continuing Work

• Embedding enzymes on the electrodes in a
  noncompartmentalized fuel cell
• Adsorption of enzymes on electrode
• Bonding of enzymes with carbon paste
• Cross wiring of enzymes to metal coated electrode

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Substrate-Electrode Interactions
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Membraneless Enzymatic Cell
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Anode Electrode Embedded with PEB Enzymes
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Carbon Cloth Electrodes Embedded with
CellulaseNADH and Q10
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Proposed Uses forImplantable Enzymatic Fuel Cells

• (To utilize arterial glucose and oxygen with
  immobilized enzymes on electrodes in a
  noncompartmentalized cell)
• Micropumps-insulin, pain meds, arthritis
• Current for-nerve stimulation, hearing aids
• Heart pacemaker (cells in series)

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Implantable Arterial Fuel Cell
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Additional Uses of Enzymatic Fuel Cells

• In Space-regeneration of human waste
• Treatment of human waste in developing countries
• Treatment of household wastes in place of
  landfills
• Industry-detoxify chemical wastes

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Conclusions

• 1. Enzymatic power density is approximately 0.1X
  that of metal catalyst fuel cells.
• 2. NADH and Q10 increased the energy output by
  approximately 5X each
• 3. Energy output was inversely proportional to
  the distance between the electrodes.
• 4. Enzymatic fuel cells function well in the
  uwatt
• range.

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Acknowledgments

• University of Notre Dame- EMSI
• Dr. Alex Hahn-RET Program Director
• Dr. Jeremy Fein-EMSI Program Director
• Dr. Robert Nerenberg-advisor

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