This article explains research to develop a fuel cell that can extract electricity from human waste. The current focus is on what has to be done to make it work for astronauts in space. The bacterium Geobacter metallidreducens feeds on and decomposes organic material while pulling electrons from the material. If they can be coaxed to deliver these electrons directly to a fuel cell electrode, an electric current can be produced. Current microbial fuel cells that are already being experimented with on Earth are described, including one prototype that is being used to generate electricity as it purifies domestic wastewater.
This description of a site outside SERC has not been vetted by SERC staff and may be incomplete or incorrect. If you
have information we can use to flesh out or correct this record let us know.
This resource originally cataloged at:
