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A low-cost, patented, in situ method to efficiently produce electricity from organic matter such as wastewater.
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Summary: An interdisciplinary team of Stanford engineers have developed a low-cost, patented, in situ method to efficiently produce electricity from organic matter such as wastewater. This microbial battery (MB) employs an anode coated with exoelectrogenic microbes that can ingest organic waste to produce excess electrons. The electrons travel to a solid state cathode which can be removed from the MB to release the electrons and recharge. The simple, membrane-free design lowers the cost and avoids oxygen diffusion. Overall, the MB has high energy recovery efficiency, high power output and low capital costs. In addition, it avoids the odor, safety and environmental risks inherent in bioreactors that produce methane. This technology could be particularly useful for in situ removal of hydrocarbon deposits in sediment or for decentralized treatment of wastewater. The system could effectively offset the electricity now used to treat wastewater – currently estimated at 3% of the total electrical load in developed nations. Applications: Biofuel/alternative energy - in situ energy extraction from a range of organic sources, such as: wastewater hydrocarbon and decaying biomass in sediments or landfills organic pollutants in dead zones of lakes and coastal waters methane deposits in the subsurface and deep ocean Advantages: High efficiency energy recovery: ~20-40% with MB compared to ~4% for conventional bioreactor and microbial fuel cell technology direct conversion of chemical energy into electricity No hazardous biogas - avoids safety, odor and environmental impact concerns of bioreactors that produce methane In situ operation: can convert organic matter in low concentrations and in hard to access locations positioning MB within wells to access subsurface deposits enables carbon dioxide to be released, neutralized and sequestered at depth Simple, membrane-free design - compared to microbial fuel cells which rely on a membrane, MB’s have: higher power output lower cost reduced oxygen diffusion