Scientists demonstrate urine's viability as an energy source
Scientists have published what is claimed to be the world’s first research paper on work that tested the viability of urine as a fuel for microbial fuel cells (MFCs).
Dr Ioannis Ieropoulos, Prof John Greenman and Prof Chris Melhuish from Bristol Robotics Lab published ’Urine utilisation by microbial fuel cells; energy fuel for the future’ in Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics.
MFCs consist of an anode and a cathode that are separated by an ion selective membrane. Commonly, bacteria are in the anode side and chemicals or oxygen are in the cathode side, which complete the reactions to generate power.
According to a statement, the use of urine as a biomass that can be converted to power via MFCs has been neglected by scientists, despite the fact that urine is an abundant waste product. Each human produces approximately 2.5 litres of urine a day, amounting to around 6.4 trillion litres globally each year.
Dr Ieropoulos said: ‘Urine is chemically rich in substances favourable to the MFCs. Our research found that the output of electricity was consistent and measurable depending on the volume of urine and the timing of the doses.
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