Researchers at McGill University have discovered a breakthrough method to enhance the effectiveness of converting human urine into electricity. Each day, adults excrete around 1.5 liters of urine, creating a plentiful and cost-efficient resource that has the potential to be harnessed for energy generation from wastewater.
The team at McGill University has been investigating the utilization of microbial fuel cells to convert urine into electricity. These cells employ bacteria to transform organic waste into power while simultaneously cleansing wastewater. Vijaya Raghavan, a study co-author and bioresource engineering professor, highlighted the uncharted territory surrounding the impact of different urine concentrations on the electrochemical performance of microbial fuel cells.
To shed light on these uncertainties, Raghavan’s team devised four distinct “dual-chamber microbial fuel cells” fed with varying mixtures of synthetic wastewater and human urine at different concentrations. Over a two-week period, the researchers evaluated energy production, pollutant removal, water treatment, and conducted electrochemical assessments. The results revealed that higher urine concentrations, ranging from 50 to 75 percent, led to superior electricity generation.
Raghavan underlined the significance of urine’s essential ions and organic compounds in accelerating microbial activation, thereby enhancing energy production and pollutant breakdown. During the experiment, bacteria mixtures in the batteries were analyzed, with the genera Sediminibacterium and Comamonas emerging as predominant. The researchers observed that the prevalence of these bacteria varied depending on urine concentration levels.
The study emphasized that the quantity of urine incorporated into the fuel cells influences microbial growth and system efficiency. Raghavan emphasized that leveraging urine as a resource supports sustainable sanitation practices and nutrient recovery, ultimately lessening the strain on freshwater systems. These findings represent a crucial step towards advancing a more sustainable circular economy, according to Raghavan.
The potential applications of this method extend to clean energy production in rural areas, disaster relief camps, and off-grid communities, as noted in a press release from McGill University. Furthermore, microbial fuel cells could serve as cost-effective biosensors for monitoring wastewater quality.
