Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - Demo - (Page 13)

Under the guidance of Dr. Boris Tartakovsky, I demonstrated that the MFC I had constructed using the Coke bottle could not only generate electricity but also treat wastewater. I chose the materials very carefully, substituting each part in a conventional MFC with a cheaper, environmentally friendly counterpart. I used wastewater as the food source for the bacteria, which meant that the bacterial cells would decompose the organic matter in the water to release electrons. In addition to the current generated from the released electrons, this yielded a much cleaner water sample after running the fuel cell for only a few hours. On the MFC Frontier After this project, I wanted to contribute new knowledge to the MFC field. After reading in an issue of Nature about magnetic bacteria called Magnetospirillum, I wondered if it might be possible to use them in another kind of MFC. I knew that spinning windmills use a magnetic generator to produce electricity. If magnetic bacteria could be persuaded to spin in a controlled fashion, I hypothesized that the magnetic field generated from this motion would cause a current to flow within a metal plate or a copper coil placed close enough. For two years, I worked with Professor John Sheppard (then at McGill University, now at North Carolina State University) on this project. To illustrate the potential of this discovery in the field of nanotechnology, I built generators that held culture volumes of up to one milliliter. These generators were lined with metal plating to transform the magnetic fields into electric current. The bacteria produced a current equivalent to about half the power of a AA battery for over 48 hours. Dr. Sheppard is currently expanding this research, which we hope will have applications in nanotechnology and which will soon be patented. My most recent work, under Dr. Darwin Lyew of McGill University’s Department of Bioresource Engineering, aimed to use photosynthetic bacteria called Synechocystis to indirectly convert carbon dioxide into electricity. This project follows the MFC principle very closely: glucose is broken down, electrons are released in the anode chamber, and a current is created. The added benefit of these fuel cells lies in the photosynthetic nature of the bacteria. Since they make their own glucose, they don’t require a food source. In addition, the process of photosynthesis converts a major greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, into glucose. March/April 2008 What Really Counts While the scholarships, trips, and media attention I’ve won at science fairs are gratifying, the most rewarding moments of my research took place in the early mornings when I would sift through stacks of raw data, learning that these millions of numbers meant that my hypotheses were correct, and finally being able to translate all the technical terms into practical applications. One moment in ninth grade proved to me that this work would pay off. It was the early winter morning when I trudged up the road to the research compound where my Coke-bottle fuel cell was being tested for its water treatment ability. My mentor, a seasoned and professional researcher, was almost as excited as I was. When I analyzed a sample of effluent water and compared it to the water that we had provided as a carbon source, the numbers and technical terms translated to a significant reduction in organic materials in the effluent sample. I had pulled it off. At every science fair, I stressed the application of my recyclable MFC in wastewater treatment and my aim to one day test it in a real-life situation, in parts of the world where clean water is rare. Today, I am furthering that research. Although the recyclable MFC concept is feasible, I still need to perfect the fuel cell design and efficiency so that it can be a self-powered treatment device. That processes as common as respiration and photosynthesis would one day startle the world with their ability to generate electricity still brings a smile to my face. The use of otherwise overlooked bacteria to provide a common necessity has demonstrated the importance of considering all possibilities and options when conducting research. My research has taught me that organisms and processes we take for granted may yet lead to groundbreaking discoveries. i Kartik Madiraju was born in Montreal, Canada and is now a senior at Marianopolis CEGEP, where he is president of the student ambassador group and a peer tutor. Kartik enjoys writing poetry and short stories, acting in theatrical productions, and traveling. He plans to pursue a career in either renewable energy research or environmental protection and law. Using a Coke bottle, Kartik created an MFC that generated electricity while also cleaning up wastewater. How I’ve found mentors Searching for a mentor is stressful. I usually make a small list of professors or researchers who have the expertise in microbiology or bioengineering and the lab space to facilitate my needs. Then I write a letter of intent, along with a brief description of what my research goals are, and then I wait for responses. Each time I have done this, I’ve received only a single response. But each time, it was from a mentor who dedicated so much of his time for my benefit and helped me every step of the way. imagine 1

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - Demo

Imagine Magazine - March/April 2008 Contents Letters Big Problems Big Picture In My Own Words Putting E-Waste in Its Place Big Juice Making Waves What Does "Green" Mean? Into the Woods Swimming with Whale Sharks Crash Course in Costa Rica Selected Opportunities & Resources Hooked on Logistics Off the Shelf Word Wise Middle Ground One Step Ahead Exploring Career Options Planning Ahead for College Students Review Creative Minds Imagine Sudoku Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - Demo

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