Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Scientists power mobile phone using urine
Phys.Org ^ | July 16, 2013 | Staff

Posted on 07/29/2013 11:03:08 AM PDT by Red Badger

British scientists on Tuesday reported they had harnessed the power of urine and were able to charge a mobile phone with enough electricity to send texts and surf the internet. Researchers from the University of Bristol and Bristol Robotics Laboratory in south west England said they had created a fuel cell that uses bacteria to break down urine to generate electricity, in a study published in the Royal Society of Chemistry journal Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics.

"No one has harnessed power from urine to do this so it's an exciting discovery," said engineer Ioannis Ieropoulos.

"The beauty of this fuel source is that we are not relying on the erratic nature of the wind or the sun; we are actually reusing waste to create energy.

"One product that we can be sure of an unending supply is our own urine," he added.

The team grew bacteria on carbon fibre anodes and placed them inside ceramic cylinders.

The bacteria broke down chemicals in urine passed through the cylinders, building up a small amount of electrical charge which was stored on a capacitor.

Ieropoulos hoped that the cell, which is currently the size of a car battery, could be developed for many applications.

"Our aim is to have something that can be carried around easily," he explained.

"So far the microbial fuel power stack (MFC) that we have developed generates enough power to enable SMS messaging, web browsing and to make a brief phone call.

"The concept has been tested and it works - it's now for us to develop and refine the process so that we can develop MFCs to fully charge a battery."

They hope the technology will eventually be used to power domestic devices.

Mobile phones are displayed on May 20, 2013. British scientists on Tuesday reported they had harnessed the power of urine and were able to charge a mobile phone with enough electricity to send texts and surf the Internet.


TOPICS: Science; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: battery; cellphone; electricity; iphone; microbialfuelcell; microbialfuelcells; urine
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-54 next last
Honest, officer, I was just recharging my iPhone!........
1 posted on 07/29/2013 11:03:09 AM PDT by Red Badger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Urine for a big surprise.


2 posted on 07/29/2013 11:03:39 AM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Pair it with a Bluetooth headset, and you’ll never have to take it out of your pocket.


3 posted on 07/29/2013 11:04:14 AM PDT by Alex Murphy ("...Someone handed the keys to the Forum to the OPC and its sympathizers...")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

Well, maybe Weiner will have his phone fully charged at all times.......


4 posted on 07/29/2013 11:04:52 AM PDT by Red Badger (Want to be surprised? Google your own name......Want to have fun? Google your friend's names........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

So it’s powered by beer?


5 posted on 07/29/2013 11:05:17 AM PDT by Pan_Yan (I believe in God. All else is dubious.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alex Murphy

Are you happy to see me or are you just recharging your phone?.......


6 posted on 07/29/2013 11:05:38 AM PDT by Red Badger (Want to be surprised? Google your own name......Want to have fun? Google your friend's names........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

ObamaPhones for the peons...


7 posted on 07/29/2013 11:05:51 AM PDT by null and void (You don't know what "cutting edge" means till you insult Mohammed.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pan_Yan

minus the alcohol.......


8 posted on 07/29/2013 11:06:04 AM PDT by Red Badger (Want to be surprised? Google your own name......Want to have fun? Google your friend's names........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Next year’s model chevy volt will feature a urinal.


9 posted on 07/29/2013 11:06:33 AM PDT by posterchild
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: null and void

Obamaphones for the messes............


10 posted on 07/29/2013 11:06:39 AM PDT by Red Badger (Want to be surprised? Google your own name......Want to have fun? Google your friend's names........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

“Watson, I PISS ON YOU!”


11 posted on 07/29/2013 11:06:55 AM PDT by Kansas58
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Planning for Britain’s future after the Islamist takeover?


12 posted on 07/29/2013 11:07:02 AM PDT by Truth29
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Customer: My phone won’t fully charge.

Customer Service: Your plug-in is not long enough to fully charge this unit.


13 posted on 07/29/2013 11:07:11 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: posterchild

To put out the fire?.......


14 posted on 07/29/2013 11:07:15 AM PDT by Red Badger (Want to be surprised? Google your own name......Want to have fun? Google your friend's names........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

P-Mobile?


15 posted on 07/29/2013 11:07:15 AM PDT by Sender (It's never too late to be what you might have been.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Maybe a Vikings player can pair it with a Whizzinator and make a celebrity sports endorsement.


16 posted on 07/29/2013 11:07:23 AM PDT by TurboZamboni (Marx smelled bad & lived with his parents most his life.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

make sure you wash your hands after using your mobile phone


17 posted on 07/29/2013 11:07:24 AM PDT by molson209
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Resolute Conservative
Customer Service: Your plug-in is not long enough to fully charge this unit., Mr. Weiner.......
18 posted on 07/29/2013 11:08:15 AM PDT by Red Badger (Want to be surprised? Google your own name......Want to have fun? Google your friend's names........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Sender

+1


19 posted on 07/29/2013 11:08:34 AM PDT by Pan_Yan (I believe in God. All else is dubious.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

20 posted on 07/29/2013 11:08:50 AM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-54 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson