Power from the urine

For the first time, British experts have succeeded in using urine to create electricity, opening up new directions for the world's energy industry in the future.

The results of a study led by Dr Ioannis Ieropoulos of the University of West Anglia in Bristol have been published in the journal Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics . Biofuel cells (MFCs) consist of an anode and a cathode, separated by an iron picking membrane. The microorganisms live on the positive side, where they oxidize the fuel to produce electrons and protons through anaerobic respiration. The subatomic byproducts turn into cathodes, which combine with oxygen to produce electricity.

Fuel sources are biodegradable and organic substances such as waste water, sugar, glucose, starch and cellulose. Dr. Ieropoulos has chosen urine for testing, which is a useful source of fuel that contains many organic compounds such as carbohydrates, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous.

Ieropoulos and colleagues found that MFC from the urine produced small amounts of electricity. In addition, the process inside the MFC cleanses the urine so it can be discharged into a safe environment. 'We are very excited about the potential of this scientific work. Its impact is great, allowing us to think of waste in a new way , "Ieropoulos emphasized.

Needless to say, urine is a very abundant source of 'resources' . Each person exports about 2.5 liters of urine a day, or about 6,400 billion liters globally each year. This is not to mention farm animals, which produce 2-3 times more urine than humans.

This ' nose- friendly' wastewater has recently been used for a number of research projects in Singapore, Japan, and the United States. It has been shown to be used to charge electric batteries. talk, run motorcycles, produce perfumes and especially fuel for rockets.