New research shows that sewage contains a source of energy that can be harvested by using hungry bacteria.
Domestic sewage contains various organic substances, mainly from toilets and kitchens. These are harmful to the environment, but also contain energy. Researchers from Ghent University discovered how to efficiently extract this energy from the wastewater.
Researcher dr. Francis Meerburg (Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology): “The levels of organic matter in sewage are too low to be directly recovered. We investigated how we can use bacteria to capture this material. Our approach is unique because we have developed a high-rate variation of the so-called contact-stabilization process.”
Professor Nico Boon: “We periodically starve the bacteria, in a kind of ‘fasting regimen’. Afterwards, wastewater is briefly brought into contact with the starved bacteria which are  gluttonous and gobble up the organic matter without ingesting all of it. This enables us to harvest the undigested materials for the production of energy and high-quality products. We starve the rest of the bacteria, so that they can purify fresh sewage again. ”
Energy neutral wastewater treatment
By using the contact-stabilization process, up to 55% of the organic matter could be recovered from sewage. This is a huge step forward, because the existing processes cannot recover more than 20 to 30%. The researchers calculated that this amount can provide sufficient amounts of energy to completely treat sewage without the need for external electricity.
“This is an important step in the direction of wastewater treatment that is energy neutral, or even produces energy,” Professor Siegfried Vlaeminck said.
Learn more:Â Binge-eating bacteria extract energy from sewage
The Latest on: Microbial energy
[google_news title=”” keyword=”microbial energy” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Microbial energy
- Turning trash into treasure: Exploring biotic and abiotic methods for PET plastic upcyclingon May 9, 2024 at 2:03 pm
A paper published in Eco-Environment & Health introduces innovative biotic and abiotic methods for recycling and upcycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The review delves into sustainable ...
- From toxic fungus to soy sauce superstaron May 9, 2024 at 5:00 am
One such fungus, the mold Aspergillus oryzae, would go on to become a culinary superstar. Through fermentation of raw ingredients like soybeans or rice, A. oryzae helps to bring us soy sauce, sake and ...
- A Laser Zapped the Rocks on Mars and Revealed a Long-Lost Water Worldon May 7, 2024 at 5:00 am
Of course, the Mars of today isn’t so hospitable—it’s atmosphere is nearly non-existent, riverbeds are dried up, and any water is now locked under Mars iron oxide-rich soil or CO2-filled ice caps. In ...
- Mars Loaded With Mineral Closely Associated With Life, NASA Rover Findson May 2, 2024 at 1:00 pm
Oxidation Fascination NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has discovered rocky material that is riddled with an unusual amount of manganese, a mineral that's abundant in lakes found back on Earth. It's yet ...
- Microbial metropolis: How building design can boost your brainon April 29, 2024 at 10:08 pm
Researchers in PNAS highlight the significant impact of microbe-host interactions on human emotions, cognition, and behavior, urging for built environment (BE) designs that consider microbiome ...
- Hurricanes to be turned into power plants: new renewable energy discoveredon April 29, 2024 at 6:30 am
A new type of energy has been discovered: that´s how we will turn hurricans into power plants to get a renewable source in our country ...
- What’s that?…A fuel cell that harvests energy from…dirt?on April 26, 2024 at 7:10 am
A soil microbial fuel cell where microbes in dirt could power applications which are literally “in the field”.
- The rise of microbial cheaters in iron-limited environmentson April 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Among microbial communities ... a fitness advantage from taking up iron-bound siderophores without investing energy in their production. While most yeasts are unable to produce siderophores ...
- The rise of microbial cheaters in iron-limited environments: Study reveals their evolutionary historyon April 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Among microbial communities ... a fitness advantage from taking up iron-bound siderophores without investing energy in their production. While most yeasts are unable to produce siderophores ...
via Bing News