Energy and clean drinking water from human waste->
Submitted
by
monikasaini123
monikasaini123 writes "A venture from a team of scientists from Imperial College London, uk, University of Manchester and Durham University defeat more than 2,000 other suggestions to receive funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to create a prototype system for recuperating drinkable water and growing hydrogen power from human faecal waste. The scientists believe the technology could provide an affordable device for people in the developing world to generate water that is clean and power from waste and a maintainable source of hydrogen power that could be used to power houses in developed world.The scientists say that the device will be mobile, enabling installing in houses and distant places. The technology is based on permeable scaffolding that maintains bacteria and nano-particles. When faecal debris is strained through the scaffolding these particles will react with the waste mater to produce the reusable options. These can either be used instantly or saved for later use.The first level of the venture will see the team creating a stand-alone cleanliness device, making it simpler and less expensive for people in developing nations to look at the technological innovation where large sewer systems may not exist. Where sewer facilities are in place, the technological innovation could be connected into the system, reducing execution costs for homeowners.In the long-term, the researchers aim to further develop their device into a ‘pick and mix’ series of recycling units that can extract the types of resources most useful for users such as: electrolytes, used for generating electricity; methane, for energy; and ammonia, which is a widely used fertiliser. The team says their device would be an advantage over other systems currently on the market that can only recover one or two resources at most.Dr Martyn McLachlan, Department of Materials at Imperial, says: “In the future, we may see homes in the UK generating their own clean water, energy and fertilizer simply by doing what comes naturally to us all once or twice day. More important are the implications for developing countries, where the provision of clean drinking water is essential for supporting life and self-generated energy could be used to support economic growth.”Reference: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_14-3-2012-10-34-45"
Link to Original Source
Link to Original Source
