黑料网爆吃瓜

Researchers at 黑料网爆吃瓜 have improved the efficiency of a method for converting human urine into clean energy.

The method employs microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which use bacteria to turn organic waste into electricity, providing a sustainable and low-cost means of treating wastewater while generating energy from an abundant source. The 黑料网爆吃瓜 research provides insights into which urine concentrations are optimal for this process.

鈥淲hile MFCs are known to clean wastewater and generate electricity, the specific effects of different urine concentrations on their electrochemical function, pollutant removal efficiency and microbial community behaviour are still not well understood,鈥� explained Vijaya Raghavan, study co-author and Professor of Bioresource Engineering.

鈥淭his study addresses that gap by systematically examining how varying urine proportions affect the electrochemical and biological performance of MFCs,鈥� he said.

Raghavan said the method could be used to generate clean energy in contexts such as rural sanitation, disaster relief camps and off-grid communities. Moreover, because their electrical signals change in response to organic pollution levels, MFCs may also work as low-cost biosensors to monitor wastewater quality without complex equipment.

Higher urine concentrations improve fuel cell performance

The researchers built four dual-chamber microbial fuel cells and fed them with mixtures of synthetic wastewater and human urine at 20, 50, and 75 per cent concentrations. They then tested the MFCs over two weeks, monitoring energy output, pollutant removal, and water treatment performance, and conducting electrochemical testing.

They found that higher urine concentrations (50 to 75 per cent) improved electricity generation, and that urine provides essential nutrients that help microbes grow.

鈥淯rine contains essential ions and organic compounds that support rapid microbial activity, which improves power generation and pollutant breakdown,鈥� Raghavan explained.

Although all of the microbial fuel cell systems contained a mix of bacteria, the researchers found that Sediminibacterium and Comamonas were the dominant groups. Sediminibacterium was more common when urine made up 50 per cent of the mixture, while Comamonas became dominant at higher concentrations (75 per cent).

Because micro-organisms like these help break down organic pollutants and transfer electrons within fuel cells, changes in which species dominate may help explain differences in how much electricity the systems generate, the researchers suggested. It also shows that the amount of urine added strongly shapes which micro-organisms thrive and how effectively the system works, they said.

Raghavan said the findings represent an important step toward a more circular economy.

鈥淯sing urine as a resource supports sustainable sanitation and nutrient recovery, reducing pressure on freshwater systems,鈥� he said.

About this study

"," by Vijaya Raghavan et al., was published in Results in Chemistry.

This research was supported by the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC), Government of India.