A New Technology Breaks Through: 1000-Litre Microbial Fuel Cell Generates Pure Water and Electricity

biotechnet Switzerland

Authors

  • Elsbeth Heinzelmann Journalist science and technology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2019.334

PMID:

30975270

Abstract

For years, researchers led by Professor Fabian Fischer at HES-SO Valais have been concentrating on microbial fuel cells, also called bio-electrochemical systems, which use electrogenic bacteria to generate electricity. Their latest innovation is a device consisting of about 14 metres of joined-up microbial fuel cells, housed in the 'catacombs' – a series of underground tunnels – beneath the wastewater treatment plant in Sion. It uses bio-electrogenic rather than aerobic microbes for the primary purpose of producing energy and purified water, but also to save electricity.

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Published

2019-04-24