Masters Theses

Varun Paul

Abstract

"Microbial life in extreme environments has been studied primarily for their metabolic activities. Very few commercial or industrial applications have been known from these systems. In this study, the metabolic pathways and properties of bacteria from a haloalkaliphilic environment of Soap Lake, Washington were employed in two research applications related to energy production. In the first study, the bacterial cultures that were known to reduce iron (III) were used in a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) reactor. Iron reducing bacteria have shown to shunt their electrons on to the surface of a carbon electrode of an MFC, and the electrons can be harvested to produce current...The second study focused on applying the fermentative mechanism of the bacterial cultures from Soap Lake. Bacteria were found to use glycerol as the substrate and ferment it to ethanol. Glycerol is a major by-product of biodiesel industry and therefore bacterial fermentation of this glycerol to ethanol would help to manage the waste as well as produce a value-added product"--Abstract, page iv.

Advisor(s)

Mormile, Melanie R.

Committee Member(s)

Maglia, Anne M.
Burken, Joel G. (Joel Gerard)

Department(s)

Biological Sciences

Degree Name

M.S. in Applied and Environmental Biology

Sponsor(s)

Missouri University of Science and Technology. Energy Research Development Center

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Summer 2009

Journal article titles appearing in thesis/dissertation

  • Electricity generation in a microbial fuel cell using bacteria from a haloalkaliphilic lake
  • Fermentation of glycerol to ethanol using haloalkaliphilic bacteria

Pagination

x, 65 pages

Geographic Coverage

Soap Lake (Wash.)

Rights

© 2009 Varun Paul, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Alcohol as fuel
Alkalophilic microorganisms
Bacteriology -- Cultures and culture media -- Washington (State) -- Soap Lake
Halophilic microorganisms
Microbial fuel cells

Thesis Number

T 9545

Print OCLC #

471877511

Electronic OCLC #

429912822

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