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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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billy44bo Champion Author Mobile Posts:7,198 Points:1,488,940 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:50:54 PM Ignore billy44bo Report Abuse congress and barry could keep us in gas forever then.
Ken2OD Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:9,062 Points:1,969,990 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:48:59 PM Ignore Ken2OD Report Abuse Sounds like a great idea for a perpetual bowel motion machine.
souly Champion Author Montreal Posts:1,755 Points:430,420 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:47:09 PM Ignore souly Report Abuse thanks for the post
Mr.Dirt Champion Author Albany Posts:8,356 Points:2,510,450 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:46:58 PM Ignore Mr.Dirt Report Abuse power corp. will not like that
LtRTH Champion Author St. Louis Posts:1,767 Points:583,095 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:46:31 PM Ignore LtRTH Report Abuse It's amazing what the private sector and our universities can achieve through their research. Keep the dysfunctional government out of it and they might just be successful.
nwsynthetics Champion Author Oregon Posts:1,014 Points:345,075 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:45:11 PM Ignore nwsynthetics Report Abuse good. we still have other ways, trash, coal, hydro...
AKmailman Champion Author Alaska Posts:5,623 Points:1,556,365 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:44:58 PM Ignore AKmailman Report Abuse Besides being OT - why would you want to add $hit to an already $hit product ?
tdmedan All-Star Author Colorado Posts:580 Points:148,945 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:42:10 PM Ignore tdmedan Report Abuse good
walkingtall Champion Author Toronto Posts:3,989 Points:1,119,730 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:40:47 PM Ignore walkingtall Report Abuse 'Water could be a huge energy producer,not a huge energy cost'and keep up the research.
snell snail Champion Author Atlanta Posts:5,018 Points:2,596,350 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:40:07 PM Ignore snell snail Report Abuse ...living in metropolitan Atlanta since 1952...I can attest to the excellent quality of water in the surrounding counties...downtown may be a different scenario...however, remember the predictions of future water wars that will result in millions of fatalities...domestic & worldwide......!
NotmeuQc Champion Author Montreal Posts:5,646 Points:1,132,100 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:38:31 PM Ignore NotmeuQc Report Abuse Keep up the research. One day something will come out that's affordable.
Cheepo Champion Author Tampa Posts:9,889 Points:3,128,005 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:36:46 PM Ignore Cheepo Report Abuse Worth a try, but first get rid of the smell!!!!!!
NashGas Champion Author Nashville Posts:3,089 Points:663,180 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:32:59 PM Ignore NashGas Report Abuse Privatizing the water company worked real well in Atlanta, oh wait....
AnnRKee Veteran Author Pennsylvania Posts:299 Points:20,565 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:32:16 PM Ignore AnnRKee Report Abuse "could be"-maybe-perhaps-possibly-doubtfully-unlikely-forget it! Another filler article of massive unimportance.
Valricoslash Champion Author Tampa Posts:6,684 Points:1,351,275 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:32:03 PM Ignore Valricoslash Report Abuse Why not? If it works continue to develop it. But keep the F***** government out of it. The private sector works fine on its own if the government will just get out of the way.
TFowler513 Champion Author Memphis Posts:3,824 Points:1,412,235 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:30:29 PM Ignore TFowler513 Report Abuse Fuel cells for direct electrical conversion coupled with a waste digester to extract methane. A great combination!!!
sickhp Champion Author San Antonio Posts:1,369 Points:515,180 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:30:08 PM Ignore sickhp Report Abuse Let the private sectore develop this and drill baby drill.
JDisNo1 Sophomore Author Twin Cities Posts:129 Points:88,820 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:28:00 PM Ignore JDisNo1 Report Abuse sounds like something Obummer would promote
turbosaab Champion Author Cleveland Posts:19,009 Points:2,339,220 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:27:31 PM Ignore turbosaab Report Abuse Excellent!
stopforgas All-Star Author Mississippi Posts:991 Points:479,880 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:25:20 PM Ignore stopforgas Report Abuse Poo Power!
tpguess Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,591 Points:369,885 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:23:04 PM Ignore tpguess Report Abuse Well I'm tempted to say "No Sh.."?
Beaveronparade Champion Author Hartford Posts:2,102 Points:634,115 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:21:26 PM Ignore Beaveronparade Report Abuse Kind of gross when you think about it but if it's free energy that's a great thing!
Quick68 Champion Author Columbus Posts:8,218 Points:1,224,825 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:20:22 PM Ignore Quick68 Report Abuse Just how much wastewater does the state of Oregon have. It takes a lot of water from very large dams to produce electricity.
bevmill Champion Author Georgia Posts:2,572 Points:598,595 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:19:08 PM Ignore bevmill Report Abuse Sounds Good!
kcboy Champion Author Utah Posts:3,963 Points:1,506,825 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:18:51 PM Ignore kcboy Report Abuse ok
spmaudio Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,729 Points:722,190 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:18:25 PM Ignore spmaudio Report Abuse This is a great idea. I'm a big fan of creating energy from waste!
swrestler Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:6,130 Points:1,570,100 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:16:17 PM Ignore swrestler Report Abuse This Sounds Very Good....
FunMyster All-Star Author Indiana Posts:907 Points:73,215 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:16:15 PM Ignore FunMyster Report Abuse ok
chicoCA Champion Author California Posts:1,970 Points:1,772,580 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:14:55 PM Ignore chicoCA Report Abuse okay
roadrunnin Champion Author Richmond Posts:1,749 Points:563,410 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:13:03 PM Ignore roadrunnin Report Abuse they have been finding ways to make money off waste for some time, cheaper energy would be great
1COR1533 Champion Author San Jose Posts:1,686 Points:314,310 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:12:01 PM Ignore 1COR1533 Report Abuse nice
1COR1533 Champion Author San Jose Posts:1,686 Points:314,310 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:11:13 PM Ignore 1COR1533 Report Abuse very cool
ec951 All-Star Author Riverside Posts:909 Points:381,515 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:10:27 PM Ignore ec951 Report Abuse Ok.
1COR1533 Champion Author San Jose Posts:1,686 Points:314,310 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:10:14 PM Ignore 1COR1533 Report Abuse go ducks
JAM11MS All-Star Author Mississippi Posts:830 Points:451,175 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:09:31 PM Ignore JAM11MS Report Abuse Vote Obama out and save this country for everyone.
kzrooster Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:2,375 Points:514,800 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:09:27 PM Ignore kzrooster Report Abuse Education at it's best.
roadrunnin Champion Author Richmond Posts:1,749 Points:563,410 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:09:07 PM Ignore roadrunnin Report Abuse they have been finding ways to make money off waste for some time, cheaper energy would be great
1COR1533 Champion Author San Jose Posts:1,686 Points:314,310 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:08:50 PM Ignore 1COR1533 Report Abuse sweet
joko0 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,965 Points:563,890 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:08:43 PM Ignore joko0 Report Abuse ok
MG_Sputnik Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:7,300 Points:1,958,680 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:07:56 PM Ignore MG_Sputnik Report Abuse We're all doomed!
1COR1533 Champion Author San Jose Posts:1,686 Points:314,310 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:07:05 PM Ignore 1COR1533 Report Abuse ok
TonyPSU Champion Author Cleveland Posts:2,526 Points:692,580 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:06:27 PM Ignore TonyPSU Report Abuse Sounds good, smells bad, probably cost tax payers a lot!
bababooey2 Champion Author Hartford Posts:6,342 Points:1,300,890 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:06:20 PM Ignore bababooey2 Report Abuse Cool idea.
outlaw329 Champion Author Austin Posts:7,611 Points:1,373,305 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:05:06 PM Ignore outlaw329 Report Abuse Does it pass the gas?
carpenter4u Champion Author Virginia Posts:2,436 Points:614,895 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:03:21 PM Ignore carpenter4u Report Abuse it probably "stinks"
paulydel Champion Author Delaware Posts:8,779 Points:847,450 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:02:59 PM Ignore paulydel Report Abuse Sounds like a lot of crap to me.
IUVidiot Champion Author Indiana Posts:3,580 Points:707,385 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:01:45 PM Ignore IUVidiot Report Abuse ok
nj2000ng Champion Author Houston Posts:1,507 Points:449,020 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:01:08 PM Ignore nj2000ng Report Abuse ok
honkerman Champion Author San Jose Posts:44,217 Points:2,395,145 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 9:00:59 PM Ignore honkerman Report Abuse Hmmmm, private researchers. Keep it out of govt. hands and it might work.
Grandkid1 Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,285 Points:223,665 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 8:58:14 PM Ignore Grandkid1 Report Abuse hmmmm
TDIdave Champion Author California Posts:5,053 Points:1,223,765 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 8:50:54 PM Ignore TDIdave Report Abuse Interesting.
PissedATthePump All-Star Author Pennsylvania Posts:507 Points:119,580 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 8:50:17 PM Ignore PissedATthePump Report Abuse WOW!! Very Cool.