Bacteria eats chocolate and shits electricity

Started by TehBorken, Jun 01 06 08:08

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TehBorken

Bacteria eats chocolate and shits electricity

University of Birmingham microbiologists have found a bacterium that excretes electricity-generating hydrogen when fed sugar, and have made electricity from waste chocolate headed for the landfill: [blockquote]The team fed Escherichia coli bacteria diluted caramel and nougat waste. The bacteria consumed the sugar and produced hydrogen, which they make with the enzyme hydrogenase, and organic acids. The researchers then used this hydrogen to power a fuel cell, which generated enough electricity to drive a small fan (Biochemical Society Transactions, vol 33, p 76). The process could provide a use for chocolate waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill. What's more, the bacteria's job doesn't have to end once they have finished chomping on the sweet stuff. Mackaskie's team next put the bugs to work on a production line that recovers precious metal from the catalytic converters of old cars.[/p][/blockquote][a href="vny!://www.newscientisttech.com/article.ns?id=mg19025546.000&feedId=online-news_rss20"]vny!://www.newscientisttech.com/article.ns?id=mg19025546.000&feedId=online-news_rss20[/a]
 
The real trouble with reality is that there's no background music.

Chicklet

Wonders never cease.

Why didn't anyone tell me that chocolate is ending up in our landfills?  I'm sure I could do my part and help get rid of it another way. ;)
'In every group of human beings you will find a few specimens of below average intelligence, above average ego and spectacularly bad judgement.' - tenkani