Guide

Main Module | Energy from Mud? Thank a Microbe!
6
Introduction
iNtroductioN
Cathode The site at which electrons are released (+)
Cellular respiration The process in which nutrients and sugars (e.g. glucose) are
broken down and turned into useful energy within a cell
Electricity The movement of electrons
Electrogenic bacteria Bacteria capable of donating electrons to external receptors
outside their bodies (e.g. an anode)
Electrons Negatively charged particles of an atom which orbit around
the atom’s nucleus
Electrode A general term for a conductive material that either accepts
electrons (e.g. the anode) or gives them away (e.g. the cathode)
Metabolism A process in which a series of chemical reactions release the
energy stored in the chemical bonds of food eaten
Microbe Short for microorganism, is used to describe any tiny organism
that is too small individually to be seen with the naked eye
Microbial fuel cell Devices which harness electrons given off naturally by bacteria
within soil, sediment and wastewater, to create an electrical
circuit
Neutron Particles in the nucleus of an atom that have no electrical
charge
Photosynthesis A process used by plants where carbon dioxide and water are
taken in to produce simple sugare (e.g. glucose) using energy
from light (usually the sun). Oxygen is released as a waste
product