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prabhakar_deosthali
I also had another thought. In countries like Africa where Sunlight is available ...
prabhakar_deosthali
Such a technology will be a real boon for countries like India where so much ...
Nanotech coverts sewage into electricity
7/22/2010 10:49 AM EDT
PORTLAND, Ore.—A nanotech coating is claimed to boost the efficiency of microbial fuel cells by 20-times, taking the technology one step closer to commercialization.
Microbial fuel cells use bacteria to break down sewage while at the same time generating electricity, combining a renewable energy source with a pressing worldwide need to provide clean water to municipalities. When the technology is perfected, researchers hope that sewage processing plants can become self-sufficient—generating enough electricity from sewage to power the water purifying machinery.
Oregon State University researchers found that nanoscale gold coating on standard graphite anodes boosted their efficiency more than standard palladium coatings, but at a higher price. Now the team is working on less expensive nanoscale coatings using iron or other inexpensive materials that nevertheless provide an equal boost in fuel-cell efficiency. The team is also trying nano-coatings out on hydrogen fuel cells to determine if they can boost their efficiency too.
Funding for this project was provided by the National Science Foundation and the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute.
Microbial fuel cells use bacteria to break down sewage while at the same time generating electricity, combining a renewable energy source with a pressing worldwide need to provide clean water to municipalities. When the technology is perfected, researchers hope that sewage processing plants can become self-sufficient—generating enough electricity from sewage to power the water purifying machinery.
Oregon State University researchers found that nanoscale gold coating on standard graphite anodes boosted their efficiency more than standard palladium coatings, but at a higher price. Now the team is working on less expensive nanoscale coatings using iron or other inexpensive materials that nevertheless provide an equal boost in fuel-cell efficiency. The team is also trying nano-coatings out on hydrogen fuel cells to determine if they can boost their efficiency too.
Funding for this project was provided by the National Science Foundation and the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute.
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R_Colin_Johnson
7/22/2010 12:31 PM EDT
Generating enough electricity from sewage to run a water treatment plant sounds like a serpent eating its own tail, but these OSU researchers may be onto something. There are many other efforts underway to create bacteria-powered fuel cells, but more conventional approaches have always won out in specific applications areas--usually because keeping bacteria strains alive is a job for pros not consumers who just want the energy generated. However, sewage treatment plants have a vested interest in keeping those bacteria happily generating electricity. And if such plants can generate enough electricity to become self-sustaining, then it might be possible to solve at least some of the world's clean water woes too! This is definitely a technology to watch (and keep our fingers crossed that is becomes commercially viable).
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ewoelk
7/22/2010 4:58 PM EDT
I agree with Colin. Something to watch. In general, the integration of biotechnlogy, materials technology and electronics is bound to wield many exciting new applications. And the field is still wide open. The future of our kids may depend on it.
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vin1980
7/23/2010 4:33 AM EDT
nice work dudes
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ssirajd
7/26/2010 3:57 AM EDT
Agree with Colin,The distance covered is great and in this case who will not like the idea of being able to use the wasted water and use the converted bi product specially when it is a commodity as useful as electricity.Feels like a dream coming true but tell you we are still miles away from the Reality of making use of the same in commercially viable options.
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prabhakar_deosthali
8/2/2010 3:28 AM EDT
Such a technology will be a real boon for countries like India where so much water goes down the drain during the season of Abundance ( monsoon season) and then in summer people have to walk miles to fetch a bucket of water to drink. This technology will enable people to harvest their own sewage to convert it back to potable water
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prabhakar_deosthali
8/2/2010 3:33 AM EDT
I also had another thought. In countries like Africa where Sunlight is available in abundance efforts have been made to make solar based distillation process to convert dirty pond water into drinking water. That sounds to me to be a much cheaper option and such systems are affordable too. This technology is available today!
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