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'Wastewater could be a huge energy producer, not a huge energy cost'

KVAL.com -- CORVALLIS, Ore. – Engineers at Oregon State University have made a breakthrough in the performance of microbial fuel cells that can produce electricity directly from wastewater, opening the door to a future in which waste treatment plants not only will power themselves, but will sell excess electricity.

The new technology developed at OSU can now produce 10 to 50 more times the electricity, per volume, than most other approaches using microbial fuel cells, and 100 times more electricity than some.

Researchers say this could eventually change the way that wastewater is treated all over the world, replacing the widely used “activated sludge” process that has been in use for almost a century. The new approach would produce significant amounts of electricity while effectively cleaning the

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Submitted Aug 14, 2012 By: angel4me

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,609 Points:1,608,545 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 19, 2012 7:58:25 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse we need to think outside the box.
Ahking Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,502 Points:602,520 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 15, 2012 11:04:03 PM Ignore Ahking Report Abuse keep working on it.
sparky808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:2,998 Points:597,735 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Aug 15, 2012 1:30:23 PM Ignore sparky808 Report Abuse Thank you for posting.
BackwoodsPundit Champion Author Richmond Posts:5,180 Points:1,011,175 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Aug 15, 2012 8:47:58 AM Ignore BackwoodsPundit Report Abuse "What an incredible SMELL you've discovered"
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:32,987 Points:2,344,535 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Aug 15, 2012 8:13:00 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Fuel cells produce methane from anaerobic digestion and from food processing plant water. Waste water treatment plants will power themselves and sell the extra electricity. Improved microbes, reduced anode-cathode spacing, improved separator materials, no production of unwanted hydrogen sulfide. Biodegrade human waste with aerobic digestion and bacteria to oxidize the organic matter. There are other organic materials that can be used to produce electricity. May have to chemically treat the waste water out of the fuel cell before disposal. This is good for remote locations where access to electricity is limited and sewage treatment is difficult or impossible. Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. Consider using other forms of less expensive transportation to lower your cost. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! 12/22/2012!
GasFreeLeaf Champion Author Orange County Posts:1,242 Points:474,725 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Aug 15, 2012 3:25:41 AM Ignore GasFreeLeaf Report Abuse Just do it.
abacus44 Champion Author Toms River Posts:3,475 Points:747,515 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Aug 15, 2012 1:01:27 AM Ignore abacus44 Report Abuse Sounds good, hope it is viable.
southrob Champion Author Tucson Posts:3,590 Points:686,225 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Aug 15, 2012 12:25:56 AM Ignore southrob Report Abuse lets try it
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,463 Points:661,975 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Aug 15, 2012 12:18:16 AM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse Promising but, no subsidies.
bonzoonfmb Champion Author Florida Posts:1,777 Points:643,610 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Aug 15, 2012 12:13:47 AM Ignore bonzoonfmb Report Abuse Sounds like good technology but I doubt that it will ever be viable.
12766 Champion Author New York Posts:2,438 Points:1,482,340 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 15, 2012 12:06:14 AM Ignore 12766 Report Abuse OK
1fulltank Champion Author Buffalo Posts:7,898 Points:1,543,335 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 15, 2012 12:05:42 AM Ignore 1fulltank Report Abuse Well we certainly have plenty of that.
jrschl Champion Author Louisville Posts:2,962 Points:680,090 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 15, 2012 12:03:52 AM Ignore jrschl Report Abuse Potentially interesting.
a14morfun Champion Author Ontario Posts:11,791 Points:2,075,265 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: Aug 15, 2012 12:00:54 AM Ignore a14morfun Report Abuse 'Shocking' new technology! Excellent!
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,083 Points:1,621,355 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:59:38 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse Beyond wastewater.
Benz98 Veteran Author Modesto Posts:370 Points:21,285 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:59:03 PM Ignore Benz98 Report Abuse ok
barbs24 Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:3,139 Points:2,039,820 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:45:53 PM Ignore barbs24 Report Abuse Wonderful progress for a great purpose
carloco75 Champion Author Richmond Posts:3,711 Points:599,390 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:43:19 PM Ignore carloco75 Report Abuse Solar energy could have solved alot of energy problems...but that would "could" got in the way...
Jeeputtputt Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,002 Points:677,465 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:42:52 PM Ignore Jeeputtputt Report Abuse sounds good on paper.....
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,061 Points:1,730,260 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:39:24 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse go figure
Prodaddy Champion Author Houston Posts:8,375 Points:1,894,210 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:38:06 PM Ignore Prodaddy Report Abuse We need to get moving on this
eswi Champion Author Madison Posts:2,540 Points:682,405 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:37:11 PM Ignore eswi Report Abuse OK
monieet All-Star Author California Posts:959 Points:529,105 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:36:03 PM Ignore monieet Report Abuse got it.
TWS658 Champion Author Portland Posts:4,543 Points:950,875 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:33:40 PM Ignore TWS658 Report Abuse Ok.
dirt girl Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:35,949 Points:3,071,030 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:29:01 PM Ignore dirt girl Report Abuse Does this mean that Milorganite will be going out of business? ;)
Mermaan Champion Author Boston Posts:1,572 Points:421,235 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:25:54 PM Ignore Mermaan Report Abuse Really glad to see this in real life
PoohMcGoo Champion Author Alabama Posts:3,067 Points:799,835 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:24:30 PM Ignore PoohMcGoo Report Abuse Sounds like a dirty job.
wayoung56 Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,795 Points:817,360 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:23:09 PM Ignore wayoung56 Report Abuse Interesting article...
ats621 Champion Author Tampa Posts:1,228 Points:306,990 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:22:41 PM Ignore ats621 Report Abuse Good
NhCobra Sophomore Author New Hampshire Posts:109 Points:428,470 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:22:39 PM Ignore NhCobra Report Abuse Just so y'all know that I don't poo-poo over EVERYTHING alternative... this sounds interesting.
jbrad4 All-Star Author Dallas Posts:801 Points:475,545 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:21:42 PM Ignore jbrad4 Report Abuse Great alternative energy source.
Blue48 Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,305 Points:1,637,945 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:21:31 PM Ignore Blue48 Report Abuse KEEP THINKING HARD AMERICA!
drobbbb Champion Author Maryland Posts:3,475 Points:811,485 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:20:42 PM Ignore drobbbb Report Abuse this could be a major breakthough for the economy and the environment
FlogNut Champion Author Chicago Posts:104,320 Points:1,987,450 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:18:04 PM Ignore FlogNut Report Abuse Get back to us when they can produce power economically without taxpayer money.
camel1 Champion Author Minnesota Posts:8,265 Points:2,265,640 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:17:31 PM Ignore camel1 Report Abuse ok
serrog Champion Author Nova Scotia Posts:5,559 Points:1,511,155 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:12:15 PM Ignore serrog Report Abuse ok
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,847 Points:1,612,025 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:11:42 PM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse This sounds like a major breakthrough. There is a lot of wastewater available and most of it is located near population centers where electricity is needed. A win-win it seems.
REKEY Champion Author South Carolina Posts:8,574 Points:1,698,440 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:09:58 PM Ignore REKEY Report Abuse Great idea!
hauler43 Champion Author Oakland Posts:8,158 Points:2,597,750 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:08:41 PM Ignore hauler43 Report Abuse Great
Holly123 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:3,197 Points:789,235 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:07:36 PM Ignore Holly123 Report Abuse Lol FlyNfool!!!
FlyNFool Champion Author South Carolina Posts:8,239 Points:1,684,225 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:05:35 PM Ignore FlyNFool Report Abuse S--t happens!
regout Champion Author Quebec Posts:2,950 Points:831,730 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:04:33 PM Ignore regout Report Abuse Ok.
s6sputnik Champion Author Austin Posts:6,219 Points:1,307,195 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:04:26 PM Ignore s6sputnik Report Abuse One flush at a time?
blah2blah3 Champion Author Houston Posts:2,601 Points:599,895 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:02:38 PM Ignore blah2blah3 Report Abuse Ok
John747 Champion Author Chicago Posts:472,195 Points:3,623,935 Joined:Aug 2001	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:02:00 PM Ignore John747 Report Abuse Let's see if they can get money from private investors or whether they need to go to the "Bank of Washington."
SalukiCO Sophomore Author Colorado Springs Posts:199 Points:242,545 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:01:07 PM Ignore SalukiCO Report Abuse Hook that thing up to the US House sewer system and we will make a fortune!
CPGas1815 Champion Author Michigan Posts:6,027 Points:1,099,605 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 10:56:53 PM Ignore CPGas1815 Report Abuse I reside about a quarter mile from our water plant. When the wind blows from the south I have to close my windows due to the noxious fumes emanating from the water plant.
DustyHorse Champion Author Virginia Posts:6,079 Points:1,390,785 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 10:55:35 PM Ignore DustyHorse Report Abuse Sounds to good to be true!
dky63 Veteran Author Illinois Posts:417 Points:166,965 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 10:55:11 PM Ignore dky63 Report Abuse Kinda a new meaning to Black Gold
sydb7 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,557 Points:1,919,005 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 10:53:45 PM Ignore sydb7 Report Abuse Good idea! Is it practical?