Posted on 03/16/2016 8:28:21 AM PDT by palmer
A new kind of fuel cell that can turn urine into electricity could revolutionize the way we produce bioenergy, particularly in developing countries. The research, published in Electrochimica Acta, describes a new design of microbial fuel cell that's smaller, cheaper and more powerful than traditional ones.
The world's supply of fossil fuels is being depleted, and there is increasing pressure to develop new renewable sources of energy. Bioenergy is one such source, and microbial fuel cells can produce it.
In their study, researchers from University of Bath, Queen Mary University of London and the Bristol Robotics Laboratory describe a new design of microbial fuel cell that overcomes two limitations of standard microbial fuel cells: their cost and low power production.
"Microbial fuel cells have real potential to produce renewable bioenergy out of waste matter like urine," said Mirella Di Lorenzo, corresponding author of the study from the University of Bath who holds a doctorate in Industrial Biotechnology. "The world produces huge volumes of urine and if we can harness the potential power of that waste using microbial fuel cells, we could revolutionize the way we make electricity."
...
(Excerpt) Read more at rdmag.com ...
Right, if, say, a busy beer joint can’t keep its juke box going all night, it’s hardly worth it.
This reminds me of the quote by the technologically out-of-his-depth general in War Games where he said he’d urinate on a spark plug if it would do any good.
If I was more technologically inclined myself, I’d post a picture of him with the quote.
I see more bars with cheap beer.
Man, in order for this to go full scale, they’re gonna need a LOT of urine... this sounds like a job I qualify for!
Hey Honey....Going down to Joe’s for a few beers...part of my energy contribution and saving the world.
I was thinking of hooking it up to the sailboat. Then we wouldn’t have to get the holding tank pumped out so often.
Urine is valuable !!! Who knew?
For $1,000,000 name three cars that start with p
Pontiac
Porsche
Plymoth
Sorry those cars start with gasoline
I guess that old phone joke won’t be much of a joke anymore.
That would work, too! :-)
Just to be on the safe side, as Ren Hoek would advise, “Don’t wizz on the electric fence.”
The Romans collected urine to bleach clothes with and our own Revolutionists collected it to make niter for gunpowder.
My dad used to tell me “if bullsh*t was electricity, you could light up the world”. Maybe he was on to something...
May come in handy when I’m stranded on Mars...
Old people urinate a lot. That means they are valuable. That makes the Obummer-care death panels destructive to an alternative energy source. :)
I don’t what to be down wind from the generator/power plant. ;-)
"I was trying to recharge my car so I could drive home, and I was arrested, and wound up on the sex offender registry!"
What are you gonna do, charge your phone?
:)
I was thinking more of a direct line from me to the carburetor. LOL!
(Might be a tricky conversion job!)
I once did 17 hours on my Sportster, so I know whereof i speak (Boston to West Virginia)
I have since upgraded to a 93FXR.
Still uses plain ol’ gasoline though.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.