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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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TDIdave Champion Author California Posts:5,188 Points:1,251,240 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.
A2J Champion Author Richmond Posts:3,205 Points:628,700 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 8:48:52 PM Ignore A2J Report Abuse hopefully
Topshopper2011 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,067 Points:290,625 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 8:46:21 PM Ignore Topshopper2011 Report Abuse Lets hope it works
Voltus Champion Author Miami Posts:8,582 Points:1,581,150 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 8:42:56 PM Ignore Voltus Report Abuse OK
jwduke1 Champion Author Iowa Posts:15,604 Points:3,068,265 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 8:38:26 PM Ignore jwduke1 Report Abuse Sounds good, if it works.
sprocketsplines Champion Author Washington Posts:1,808 Points:887,085 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 8:37:43 PM Ignore sprocketsplines Report Abuse Reminds me of the 'Back To The Future' ending where garbage is used for fuel.
Joliet_Johnny Rookie Author Illinois Posts:87 Points:30,365 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 8:35:27 PM Ignore Joliet_Johnny Report Abuse interesting...
flguy002200 Rookie Author Florida Posts:24 Points:12,860 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 8:35:03 PM Ignore flguy002200 Report Abuse good luck with that
SavingInNC Champion Author North Carolina Posts:5,924 Points:1,118,240 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 8:31:35 PM Ignore SavingInNC Report Abuse Not me
misterray Champion Author Oregon Posts:3,178 Points:721,865 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 8:22:15 PM Ignore misterray Report Abuse Not ready for poop time.
DrivingFool2 Champion Author Appleton Posts:8,722 Points:1,632,590 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 8:21:19 PM Ignore DrivingFool2 Report Abuse Not ready for prime time
dave1745 Champion Author Gary Posts:1,262 Points:761,775 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 8:18:35 PM Ignore dave1745 Report Abuse nifty
CAroadrunner101 Champion Author California Posts:1,962 Points:1,342,150 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 8:17:50 PM Ignore CAroadrunner101 Report Abuse hmmm...
MINIWINI598 Champion Author Washington Posts:3,165 Points:545,425 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 8:15:51 PM Ignore MINIWINI598 Report Abuse ok
Volkswagen62 Sophomore Author Salinas Posts:197 Points:686,195 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 8:13:25 PM Ignore Volkswagen62 Report Abuse Who would have thunk poop can make so much money??
TXHUNTER1 Champion Author Austin Posts:2,712 Points:301,230 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 8:10:35 PM Ignore TXHUNTER1 Report Abuse Hope it doesn't stink too much.
doggod Champion Author Anchorage Posts:2,983 Points:768,085 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 8:06:55 PM Ignore doggod Report Abuse I find it interesting the way money seeps into the core of everything it touches. Here's a research project undertaken at a tax-funded university using other tax money filtered through the National Science Foundation, and when the subject turns to "what-happens-next?" the knee-jerk response is >> ... and the next step would be a pilot study. Funding is now being sought for such a test. << It doesn't say explicitly that taxpayer money is being sought, but "funding is now being sought" certainly implies it in the strongest possible terms. If this is such a great idea ... gonna change the world for the better ... then the benefits will flow down to the money, and they wouldn't have to be seeking "funding", they could be seeking "investment". But why would people living off the taxpayer even think of such a thing? That's not how their world works. And maybe they're right. Why should anybody invest in it? Why not wait and let the taxpayers foot the bill and then jump in and reap the benefits? That's how corrupt and sick our world has become, and that's why cities, counties and states are going bankrupt and our Federal government is falling off a financial cliff too.
sabob Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:12,731 Points:1,154,995 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:55:35 PM Ignore sabob Report Abuse Maybe I should put in a BIG tank & sell the sewer water to them
GryphonX Champion Author Nevada Posts:6,175 Points:1,610,475 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:54:45 PM Ignore GryphonX Report Abuse Great idea!
DavoIL All-Star Author Chicago Posts:810 Points:959,085 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:53:43 PM Ignore DavoIL Report Abuse great news
mabrams184 Champion Author Lexington Posts:2,176 Points:557,205 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:47:20 PM Ignore mabrams184 Report Abuse Good to hear
TAT36 Champion Author Florida Posts:6,944 Points:1,329,225 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:41:40 PM Ignore TAT36 Report Abuse Just confirms the old adage there is nothing new under the sun. Every thing on earth that man develops already exist in some for or other, we just alter the forms and use it for different things.
hammer219115 Veteran Author Pennsylvania Posts:411 Points:22,950 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:40:49 PM Ignore hammer219115 Report Abuse Less jobs?
SUPERQUACK Champion Author Sacramento Posts:6,247 Points:1,937,380 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:40:20 PM Ignore SUPERQUACK Report Abuse COULD ???????????????
run4gxc Champion Author Ohio Posts:2,755 Points:625,880 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:39:03 PM Ignore run4gxc Report Abuse ok
pliskin Champion Author Syracuse Posts:6,202 Points:1,758,285 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:34:54 PM Ignore pliskin Report Abuse I'm with "milespergallon" and "itsjustme719" on this one. Their opinions are right to the point!
Senrac Champion Author Lincoln Posts:1,594 Points:307,560 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:34:17 PM Ignore Senrac Report Abuse might work
milespergallon Champion Author Illinois Posts:9,880 Points:1,935,835 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:27:51 PM Ignore milespergallon Report Abuse Of course it should. The problem is getting the 'sticky fingers' out of the mix so it can be used!
itsjustme719 All-Star Author Hamilton Posts:612 Points:617,470 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:27:08 PM Ignore itsjustme719 Report Abuse Hopefully this technology takes hold.
gumbyrex Champion Author Fresno Posts:3,436 Points:786,015 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:24:38 PM Ignore gumbyrex Report Abuse I hope this turns out to be a viable option.
Piniewoods All-Star Author Jacksonville Posts:892 Points:466,240 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:23:49 PM Ignore Piniewoods Report Abuse What next, turn it into wine.
preacherjohn Champion Author Modesto Posts:4,096 Points:1,943,310 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:21:36 PM Ignore preacherjohn Report Abuse There will always be waste water.
g747 Champion Author Mobile Posts:4,677 Points:960,395 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:20:27 PM Ignore g747 Report Abuse We would have an abundance of power for years to come!!!!!.
NemoIL Champion Author Illinois Posts:3,159 Points:1,339,905 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:19:49 PM Ignore NemoIL Report Abuse Good idea, I just hope our dear leader has not given billions of our tax dollars to fund this.
no8c Champion Author Ohio Posts:2,934 Points:731,350 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:18:14 PM Ignore no8c Report Abuse Thanks for posting this article!
Romey08 Champion Author Virginia Posts:6,412 Points:1,456,430 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:16:17 PM Ignore Romey08 Report Abuse re-use is the name of the game
geoutpb Champion Author Midland Odessa Posts:4,713 Points:1,084,160 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:15:50 PM Ignore geoutpb Report Abuse Would be nice to see it work out.
wz Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,620 Points:1,303,960 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:13:31 PM Ignore wz Report Abuse A rare win-win-win: 1)Treatment plants convert a cost to a revenue stream by selling excess electricity. 2)More efficient treatment of wastewater. 3)Add electricity to the grid without consuming any fuel.
iceman11 Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,715 Points:536,425 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:13:09 PM Ignore iceman11 Report Abuse Interesting
fallbaby All-Star Author Indiana Posts:723 Points:322,765 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:11:39 PM Ignore fallbaby Report Abuse I won't hold my breath.
Glock26 Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,654 Points:658,135 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:11:06 PM Ignore Glock26 Report Abuse Sounds good!!!
TBRR Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:3,716 Points:605,975 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:10:16 PM Ignore TBRR Report Abuse r&d will always come up with something new. now to make it viable on a large scale. in god we trust
robaloma Champion Author Houston Posts:2,731 Points:718,025 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:08:51 PM Ignore robaloma Report Abuse Today in music class the following student(s) displayed excellent behavior:The following student(s) need to improve on listening and following directions:
hallows Champion Author St. Louis Posts:4,833 Points:2,831,345 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:08:30 PM Ignore hallows Report Abuse I agree, WilW!
Pramodsharma Champion Author Richmond Posts:2,099 Points:412,165 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:07:13 PM Ignore Pramodsharma Report Abuse Thinking of world is thinking wide open, let's develop energy from waste water. we will call it Acqua 1(won)der.
mitchell6597 Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:3,462 Points:728,360 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:05:04 PM Ignore mitchell6597 Report Abuse hey, that's cool!
trytogetby All-Star Author Cincinnati Posts:900 Points:222,895 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 7:01:43 PM Ignore trytogetby Report Abuse OK
rjoeh Champion Author Michigan Posts:7,207 Points:2,496,565 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 6:58:57 PM Ignore rjoeh Report Abuse Technology does it again. Way to go OSU. Now to see if the political machine will impliment such technology for the good of the country or try to bury it so that political supporters can continue to make money on the current program.
WilW Champion Author Atlanta Posts:12,351 Points:2,698,595 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 6:56:38 PM Ignore WilW Report Abuse Fuel from dookie. I like it!
kacansas All-Star Author Twin Cities Posts:788 Points:237,445 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Aug 14, 2012 6:53:49 PM Ignore kacansas Report Abuse Yep, it figures.