Wastewater as a source of energy

Researchers at Pennsylvania State University tested with
successful a bacterial fuel cell thanks to which they have
produces a current of 72 watts per square meter from wastewater.
Similar in design to the hydrogen cell (two electrodes
separated by a proton exchange membrane), the
Bruce Logan and his colleagues capture electrons naturally
released by bacteria during the digestion of organic matter and
converts them into electricity. While the current generated is still weak,
but the technology seems to be changing rapidly. Since they have
submitted their results to the journal Enviromental Science &
Technology, the researchers jumped ahead and got more
of 350 watts per square meter. According to them, the process could one day
be used in developing countries in small
wastewater treatment units that would ensure their own
power supply. The food industry, in particular
hog farms, as well as NASA, which is working on a project
similar for future long human journeys in space,
could also be interested.

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WP 01 / 11 / 04 (Making
power from wastewater)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14670-2004Oct31.html

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