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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:18,599 Points:1,607,570 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:3,497 Points:601,520 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:2,989 Points:596,670 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:5,179 Points:1,010,230 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:32,954 Points:2,343,560 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:474,275 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:3,470 Points:745,790 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:2,458 Points:661,000 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:1,772 Points:642,185 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:2,433 Points:1,481,365 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 15, 2012 12:06:14 AM Ignore 12766 Report Abuse OK
1fulltank Champion Author Buffalo Posts:7,893 Points:1,542,360 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:2,955 Points:679,075 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 15, 2012 12:03:52 AM Ignore jrschl Report Abuse Potentially interesting.
a14morfun Champion Author Ontario Posts:11,782 Points:2,074,290 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:11,076 Points:1,620,255 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:3,129 Points:2,038,620 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:3,706 Points:598,415 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:8,055 Points:1,729,430 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:39:24 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse go figure
Prodaddy Champion Author Houston Posts:8,365 Points:1,893,010 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:2,535 Points:681,430 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:528,355 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:35,944 Points:3,070,055 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:798,335 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:2,790 Points:816,385 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:306,240 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:427,720 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:474,795 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:7,295 Points:1,635,995 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:3,466 Points:810,380 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:104,295 Points:1,986,475 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:8,260 Points:2,264,665 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:17:31 PM Ignore camel1 Report Abuse ok
serrog Champion Author Nova Scotia Posts:5,554 Points:1,510,180 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:12:15 PM Ignore serrog Report Abuse ok
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,841 Points:1,611,050 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:8,564 Points:1,696,490 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:3,192 Points:788,260 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:07:36 PM Ignore Holly123 Report Abuse Lol FlyNfool!!!
FlyNFool Champion Author South Carolina Posts:8,234 Points:1,683,250 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:05:35 PM Ignore FlyNFool Report Abuse S--t happens!
regout Champion Author Quebec Posts:2,945 Points:830,755 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:04:33 PM Ignore regout Report Abuse Ok.
s6sputnik Champion Author Austin Posts:6,214 Points:1,306,220 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:2,591 Points:598,695 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 11:02:38 PM Ignore blah2blah3 Report Abuse Ok
John747 Champion Author Chicago Posts:472,095 Points:3,622,960 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:241,795 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:6,072 Points:1,389,670 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:3,550 Points:1,917,990 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 10:53:45 PM Ignore sydb7 Report Abuse Good idea! Is it practical?