Need your thoughts on this please - GoFuckYourself.com

Juicy D. Links · 03-14-2004, 11:26 PM

What are your thoughts?

Microbial fuel cell cleans water, generates electricity

Penn State environmental engineers have shown, for the first time, that a microbial fuel cell (MFC) can generate electricity while simultaneously cleaning the wastewater that you flush down the drain or toilet.
So far, the Penn State experiments have produced between 10 and 50 milliWatts of power per square meter of electrode surface, or about 5 percent of the amount needed to run one mini-Christmas tree light, while removing up to 78 percent of organic matter as measured by biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).

Bruce E. Logan, the Kappe professor of environmental engineering and director of the project, says, "MFCs may represent a completely new approach to wastewater treatment. If power generation in these systems can be increased, MFC technology may provide a new method to offset wastewater treatment plant operating costs, making advanced wastewater treatment more affordable for both developing and industrialized nations."

The project is described in a paper, 'Production of Electricity During Wastewater Treatment Using a Single Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell', released on-line and scheduled for a future issue of Environmental Science and Technology. The authors are Hong Liu, postdoctoral researcher in environmental engineering; Ramanathan Ramnarayanan, doctoral candidate in materials; and Logan.

Other researchers have shown that MFCs can be used to produce electricity from water containing pure chemicals including glucose, acetate or lactate. The Penn State researchers are the only ones, so far, to show that MFCs can produce electricity directly from wastewater skimmed from the settling pond of a treatment plant.

Microbial fuel cells work through the action of bacteria which can pass electrons to an anode, the negative electrode of a fuel cell. The electrons flow from the anode through a wire, producing a current, to a cathode, the positive electrode of a fuel cell, where they combine with hydrogen ions (protons) and oxygen to form water.

Logan notes that in MFCs currently under investigation in other laboratories, various kinds of bacteria are typically added to the system. However, in the Penn State approach, no special bacteria are added. The naturally occurring bacteria in wastewater drive power production via a reaction that allows them to transport electrons from the cell surface to the anode. In addition, a reaction (oxidation) that occurs in the interior of the bacterial cell lowers the biochemical oxygen demand, cleaning the water.

The current Penn State MFC is about six inches long and 2.5 inches in diameter. It contains eight anodes, composed of graphite, that supply about 36 square inches of surface area to which the bacteria can adhere and pass electrons. The cathode is a carbon/platinum catalyst/proton exchange membrane fused to a plastic support tube.

Logan notes, "I'm optimistic that MFCs may be able to help reduce the $25 billion annual cost of wastewater treatment in the U.S. and provide access to sanitation technologies to countries throughout the world."

The project was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation to Logan and Tom Mallouk, professor of chemistry, who is Ramnarayanan's adviser.

riosluts · 03-14-2004, 11:27 PM

umm too much reading sum it up in one word. if its about a new way to generate energy then its a good innovation from pollution

=^..^= · 03-14-2004, 11:29 PM

BASTARD! i opened this thread coz I thought it WOULDNT be science class again

MattO · 03-14-2004, 11:33 PM

That's pretty amazing... and it's good to see, after dealing with idiots day in and day out, that there are brilliant scientists doing cool shit with their brains.

digifan · 03-14-2004, 11:34 PM

Juicy, we are worrying about you...

fuzebox · 03-14-2004, 11:37 PM

BEST JUICY POST EVER

I love it.

bcooter · 03-14-2004, 11:39 PM

shows amazing potential, its definately the begining of something huge. The savings of this could be compared to what the computer has saved the government. eventually MFC's will be used in a numerous amount of applications, it wont be long before they are in every home. Personally I have alot of money invested in the companies developing fuel cells of all kinds. with the way the world is moving, it is the logical step to eliminate our dependance on oil from the middle east. The US consumes more power than the rest of the world combined, and in about 30 years, there will be no oil left (dont believe me i beg you to research it) and fuel cells WILL take their place. IF you are not a gambling man, put your money into companies that are developing fuel cell technology.

Mr. Marks · 03-14-2004, 11:42 PM

There's too much science talk going on. I would really want to give my 2 cents. Make it more simple....

03-14-2004, 11:26 PM	#1
Juicy D. Links So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: N.Y. -Long Island -- Posts: 122,992	Need your thoughts on this please What are your thoughts? Microbial fuel cell cleans water, generates electricity Penn State environmental engineers have shown, for the first time, that a microbial fuel cell (MFC) can generate electricity while simultaneously cleaning the wastewater that you flush down the drain or toilet. So far, the Penn State experiments have produced between 10 and 50 milliWatts of power per square meter of electrode surface, or about 5 percent of the amount needed to run one mini-Christmas tree light, while removing up to 78 percent of organic matter as measured by biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). Bruce E. Logan, the Kappe professor of environmental engineering and director of the project, says, "MFCs may represent a completely new approach to wastewater treatment. If power generation in these systems can be increased, MFC technology may provide a new method to offset wastewater treatment plant operating costs, making advanced wastewater treatment more affordable for both developing and industrialized nations." The project is described in a paper, 'Production of Electricity During Wastewater Treatment Using a Single Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell', released on-line and scheduled for a future issue of Environmental Science and Technology. The authors are Hong Liu, postdoctoral researcher in environmental engineering; Ramanathan Ramnarayanan, doctoral candidate in materials; and Logan. Other researchers have shown that MFCs can be used to produce electricity from water containing pure chemicals including glucose, acetate or lactate. The Penn State researchers are the only ones, so far, to show that MFCs can produce electricity directly from wastewater skimmed from the settling pond of a treatment plant. Microbial fuel cells work through the action of bacteria which can pass electrons to an anode, the negative electrode of a fuel cell. The electrons flow from the anode through a wire, producing a current, to a cathode, the positive electrode of a fuel cell, where they combine with hydrogen ions (protons) and oxygen to form water. Logan notes that in MFCs currently under investigation in other laboratories, various kinds of bacteria are typically added to the system. However, in the Penn State approach, no special bacteria are added. The naturally occurring bacteria in wastewater drive power production via a reaction that allows them to transport electrons from the cell surface to the anode. In addition, a reaction (oxidation) that occurs in the interior of the bacterial cell lowers the biochemical oxygen demand, cleaning the water. The current Penn State MFC is about six inches long and 2.5 inches in diameter. It contains eight anodes, composed of graphite, that supply about 36 square inches of surface area to which the bacteria can adhere and pass electrons. The cathode is a carbon/platinum catalyst/proton exchange membrane fused to a plastic support tube. Logan notes, "I'm optimistic that MFCs may be able to help reduce the $25 billion annual cost of wastewater treatment in the U.S. and provide access to sanitation technologies to countries throughout the world." The project was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation to Logan and Tom Mallouk, professor of chemistry, who is Ramnarayanan's adviser.

03-14-2004, 11:27 PM	#2
riosluts Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 5,250	umm too much reading sum it up in one word. if its about a new way to generate energy then its a good innovation from pollution __________________

03-14-2004, 11:29 PM	#3
=^..^= Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: ICQ 380-366 Posts: 6,935	BASTARD! i opened this thread coz I thought it WOULDNT be science class again __________________ #RememberYourRoots #AaronMForGFYHOF

03-14-2004, 11:34 PM	#5
digifan The Profiler Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: ICQ 76281726 and I'm female Posts: 14,618	Juicy, we are worrying about you... __________________ [email protected] Webair Rocks

03-14-2004, 11:39 PM	#7
bcooter Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Detroit Posts: 797	shows amazing potential, its definately the begining of something huge. The savings of this could be compared to what the computer has saved the government. eventually MFC's will be used in a numerous amount of applications, it wont be long before they are in every home. Personally I have alot of money invested in the companies developing fuel cells of all kinds. with the way the world is moving, it is the logical step to eliminate our dependance on oil from the middle east. The US consumes more power than the rest of the world combined, and in about 30 years, there will be no oil left (dont believe me i beg you to research it) and fuel cells WILL take their place. IF you are not a gambling man, put your money into companies that are developing fuel cell technology. __________________ Where I make All My Non-Adult Money

03-14-2004, 11:33 PM	#4
MattO The O is for Oohhh Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: AUSTIN TEJAS Posts: 10,861	That's pretty amazing... and it's good to see, after dealing with idiots day in and day out, that there are brilliant scientists doing cool shit with their brains.

03-14-2004, 11:37 PM	#6
fuzebox making it rain Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: seattle Posts: 22,119	BEST JUICY POST EVER I love it.

03-14-2004, 11:42 PM	#8
Mr. Marks Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Wherever I want Posts: 7,517	There's too much science talk going on. I would really want to give my 2 cents. Make it more simple....