Fuel cell from human waste? No sh--!

[Belinda Wong-Swanson]

FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY
Right now, astronaut waste gets shipped back to Earth. But for long-term
exploration, you'd want to recycle it, because it holds resources that
astronauts will need. It will provide pure drinking water, fertilizer, and,
with the help of a recently discovered microbe, it will also provide
electricity.

A NASA-funded research team led by Dr. Bruce Rittmann, a professor at
Northwestern University, is currently developing a membrane microbial fuel
cell, which obtain their electrons from organic waste. The bacteria at the
heart of the device -- Geobacter microbes -- feed on the waste, and, as part
of their digestive process, they pull electrons from the material. These
microbes can be coaxed to deliver the electrons directly to a fuel cell
electrode, which conducts them into a circuit. As they flow through the
circuit, they generate electricity.

The membrane microbial fuel cell is still in the early stages of its
development. Yet, if the project succeeds, these devices may not only be
used in space, but also in our own homes. "You have to treat the wastes
anyway,"
said Rittmann. "So why not make the process an energy gainer, instead
of an energy loser? By producing electricity, microbial fuel cells would
make
the process of purifying waste streams much more economical."

For more information, visit: http://link.abpi.net/l.php?20040527A2


Belinda Wong-Swanson, Principal
Innov8 LLC, 624 Agua Fria, Santa Fe, NM 87501
www.innov8llc.com
email: [hidden email]
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