Biochemists Produce Electricity from Cannabis Metabolites
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]A[/dropcap] recent study published in the February issue of Bioresearch Technology Reports suggests that Turkish scientists were able to convert cannabis metabolites into electricity. Even after a person consumes cannabis, the metabolites that they expel through their urine can be used for practical purposes such as a unique way to generate electricity.
Labroots reports that Dr. Tunc Canal and colleagues from Uskudar University in Istanbul, Turkey, used microbial fuel cells (MFCs) by mixing chemical compounds and certain bacteria. COOH-THC or 11?nor?9?carboxy?delta-9 is the primary metabolite of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is found in urine and the metabolite that was used in the study.
The process is complex, especially for people who are not versed in biochemistry and bioresearch. “Electricity was generated directly from synthetic or human urine containing 11?nor?9?carboxy?delta-9?tetrahydrocannabinol in air-cathode microbial fuel cells,” researchers wrote in the study. “Synthetic urine contained sodium acetate as carbon source, while actual human urine was used neat, without further supplements. Microbial fuel cells were capable of degrading more than 60% of the cannabis metabolite from human urine, while generating electricity. With synthetic urine, voltage generation reached 0.33?V, however the addition of 300?ng/mL of 11?nor?9?carboxy?delta-9?tetrahydrocannabinol decreased the peak voltage to 0.27?V.”
Researchers explained that MFCs utilize exoelectrogenic microorganisms to extract electrons from carbon-based compounds. Those electrons travel to a cathode and produce an electrical current. Exoelectrogenic microorganisms work by oxidizing carbon-based substrates. This oxidation removes electrons from the substrate, and those electrons can then be used as electricity. The same technique has been used with substances like ammonia, hydrocarbons, ethanol, propanol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, cyclic alcohols and formic acid.
With the increase of global cannabis consumption, THC metabolites are going to be found in abundance. This is, by far, one of the most unusual ways that cannabis-related derivatives could potentially be used for innovative purposes.
