BBC:
Researchers at the Pennsylvania State University have developed
a prototype device that can simultaneously treat wastewater and
generate electricity. They employed reverse electrodialysis
(RED), which is commonly used to desalinate seawater. In that
process, fresh water and salt water are put in chambers
separated by membranes, and an electrochemical charge is
created by the flow of ions that results. Replacing the
seawater with ammonium bicarbonate, the researchers combined
the RED membrane stacks with microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which
convert chemical energy to electrical energy by the catalytic
reaction of microorganisms. "In our process, we have the MFC
part which is treating waste water and creating energy, and we
have the RED stack which is just boosting that process, it's
making it happen more efficiently," said Bruce Logan, one of
the authors of a
paper
published in
Science. The group hopes its device could be used in
developing countries to provide clean water and power for
homes.
