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At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

The design of dehydrogenase enzymes for use in a biofuel cell: the role of genetically introduced peptide tags in enzyme immobilization on electrodes.

The immobilization of the mutants of L-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) on poly(aniline) (PANi) composite films has been investigated. Mutants possessing peptide tags of varying charge and nucleophilicity were created to probe the nature of the interaction between the protein and PANi. These results are significant for the development of a 'generic' approach to the immobilization of enzymes and other proteins.

Bioelectric Energy Sources↗
PubMed2005

Microbial phenazine production enhances electron transfer in biofuel cells.

High-rate electron transfer toward an anode in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) has thus far not been described for bacteria-producing soluble redox mediators. To studythe mechanism of electron transfer, we used a MFC isolate, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain KRP1. Bacterial electron transfer toward the MFC anode was enabled through pyocyanin and phenazine-1-carboxamide. The presence of the anode stimulated pyocyanin production. Mutant strains, deficient in the synthesis of pyocyanin and phenazine-1-carboxamide, were unable to achieve substantial electron transfer and reached only 5% of the wild type's power output. Upon pyocyanin addition, the power output was restored to 50%. Pyocyanin was not only used by P. aeruginosa to improve electron transfer but as well enhanced electron transfer by other bacterial species. The finding that one bacterium can produce electron shuttles, which can be used also by other bacteria, to enhance electron-transfer rate and growth, has not been shown before. These findings have considerable implications with respect to the power output attainable in MFCs.

Bioelectric Energy Sources↗
PubMed2006

The path forward for biofuels and biomaterials.

Biomass represents an abundant carbon-neutral renewable resource for the production of bioenergy and biomaterials, and its enhanced use would address several societal needs. Advances in genetics, biotechnology, process chemistry, and engineering are leading to a new manufacturing concept for converting renewable biomass to valuable fuels and products, generally referred to as the biorefinery. The integration of agroenergy crops and biorefinery manufacturing technologies offers the potential for the development of sustainable biopower and biomaterials that will lead to a new manufacturing paradigm.

Biomass↗
PubMed2005

Combustion of dried animal dung as biofuel results in the generation of highly redox active fine particulates.

BACKGROUND: The burning of biomass in the developing world for heating and cooking results in high indoor particle concentrations. Long-term exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) has been associated with increased rates of acute respiratory infections, chronic obstructive lung disease and cancer. In this study we determined the oxidative activity of combustion particles derived from the biomass fuel dung cake by examining their capacity to deplete antioxidants from a model human respiratory tract lining fluid (RTLF). For comparison, the observed oxidative activity was compared with that of particles derived from industrial and vehicular sources. RESULTS: Incubation of the dung cake particle suspensions in the RTLF for 4 h resulted in a mean loss of ascorbate of 72.1 +/- 0.7 and 89.7 +/- 2.5% at 50 and 100 microg/ml, respectively. Reduced glutathione was depleted by 49.6 +/- 4.3 and 63.5 +/- 22.4% under the same conditions. The capacity of these samples to deplete ascorbate was in excess of that observed with diesel or gasoline particles, but comparable to that seen with residual oil fly ash and considerably in excess of all three control particles in terms of glutathione depletion. Co-incubation with the metal chelator diethylenetriaminepentaacetate inhibited these losses, whilst minimal inhibition was seen with superoxide dismutase and catalase treatment. The majority of the activity observed appeared to be contained within aqueous particle extracts. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that biomass derived particles have considerable oxidative activity, largely attributable to their transition metal content.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

A new class of plants for a biofuel feedstock energy crop.

Directly burnable biomass to be used primarily in steam boilers for power production has been researched and demonstrated in a variety of projects in the United states. The biomass typically comes from wood wastes, such as tree trimmings or the byproducts of lumber production, or from a cash crop, grown by farmers. Of this latter group, the main emphasis has been utilizing corn stover, or a prairie grass called switchgrass, or using tree seedlings such as willow. In this article, I propose an alternative to these energy crops that consists of several different herbaceous plants with the one consistent property that they annually generate an appreciable bulk of dried-down burnable mass. The fact that they are a set of plants (nine are offered as candidates) gives this energy crop a great deal of flexibility as far as growing conditions and annual harvest time line. Their predicted yield is impressive and leads to speculation that they can be economically feasible.

Agriculture↗