Wastewater turned into energy resource

Researchers from Penn State University have developed a new technique that can turn wastewater into an energy resource.

By combining waste water and refinery energy technology, the research team have developed a two-pronged method of producing energy from an abundant source. The results were published in the study Energy Capture from Thermolytic Solutions in Microbial Reverse-Electrodialysis Cells, written by Roland Cusick, Bruce E. Logan and Y. Kim, which was published in Science.

The researchers used a system known as system known 'microbial reverse-electrodialysis cell', or MRC, to produce the energy, which generates substantially more energy than the microbial fuel cell alone and requires fewer of the expensive membranes in comparison with a conventional reverse electrodialysis system.

Furthermore, the system uses ammonium bicarbonate salt solutions rather than seawater as fuel for reverse electrodialysis. This means that the solution can be continuously regenerated with low levels of heat, such as solar thermal or industrial waste heat in a closed loop system.

Eric M.V. Hoek, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at University of California commented in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "These latest research results suggest the potential to transform the necessary but normally energy-intensive process of purifying wastewater into an energy neutral or even energy positive process might be possible."

Posted by Lauren Steadman