Microbial fuel cells directly convert chemical energy stored in organic matter, such as that found in wastewater, into electrical energy. They are of interest for both wastewater treatment and power generation applications.
“Living energy-recovery systems utilising bacteria found in wastewater offer a one-two punch for environmental sustainability efforts,” said Professor Yu Huang, a UCLA engineer. “The natural populations of bacteria can help decontaminate groundwater by breaking down harmful chemical compounds.”
“Now, our research also shows a practical way to harness renewable energy from this process.”
The UCLA researchers focused on the genus of bacteria Shewanella, which have attracted considerable attention due to their energy-generation capabilities and their astonishing hardiness: they can grow and thrive in all types of environments, including soil, wastewater, and seawater, regardless of oxygen levels. Species in this genus naturally break...