Using Dissimilatory metal-reducing bacteria (DRMB), scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory are studying how these organisms catalyze electron reactions during their respiration process. This process can be used to harvest energy from cultured bacteria in its own environment such as seawater or wastewater.
Anaerobic respiration is a a process that uses electron acceptors such as sulfate (SO42-), nitrate (NO3-), and sulfur (S) instead of oxygen (O2). The process still uses a respiratory electron chain albeit without oxygen. An exogenous final electron acceptor is still needed for electrons to pass through the system.
The electron transfer, known as extracellular electron transfer (EET), is what is exploted to ultimately create energy.
The study can open up applications in the future such as fuel from seawater, electricity from wastewater or at a microlevel - bacteria coated electronics that can power up on its own. Other related technologies have used algae and other crops such as soybean to create biofuel and biodiesel.
In 2009, researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark discovered the presence of bacteria capable of generating electric currents in the seabed.
