Loofahs, best known for their use in exfoliating skin to soft, radiant perfection, have emerged as a new potential tool to advance sustainability efforts on two fronts at the same time: energy and waste.
The study describes the pairing of loofahs with bacteria to create a power-generating microbial fuel cell (MFC) and appears in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Shungui Zhou and colleagues note that MFCs, which harness the ability of some bacteria to convert waste into electric power, could help address both the world’s growing waste problem and its need for clean power. Current MFC devices can be expensive and complicated to make. In addition, the holes, or pores, in the cells’ electrodes are often too small for bacteria to spread out in. Recently, researchers have turned to plant materials as a low-cost alternative, but pore size has still been an issue. Loofahs, which come from the fully ripened fruit of loofah plants, are commonly used as bathing sponges. They have very large pores, yet are still inexpensive. That’s why Zhou’s team decided to investigate their potential use in MFCs.
When the scientists put nitrogen-enriched carbon nanoparticles on loofahs and loaded them with bacteria, the resulting MFC performed better than traditional MFCs. “This study introduces a promising method for the fabrication of high-performance anodes from low-cost, sustainable natural materials,” the researchers state.
The Latest on: Microbial fuel cell
- Cambridge Scientists Discover Simple “Twist” That Supercharges Clean Fuel Generationon April 26, 2024 at 8:55 am
Scientists have discovered a method to super-charge the ‘engine’ of sustainable fuel generation – by giving the materials a little twist. The researchers, led by the University of Cambridge, are devel ...
- Researchers seek to scale ‘yeast fuel’ productionon April 26, 2024 at 7:34 am
Scientists at Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University say yeast and agricultural waste will play a key role in the development of renewable jet fuel for the aerospace industry ...
- 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”.
- LaFeO3 Perovskite Fuel Cell Technology Boosts SRMAP's Clean Energy Missionon April 26, 2024 at 6:45 am
The significance of this invention cannot be understated in an era where the reliance on clean and efficient energy conversion methods is paramount ...
- Revolutionizing Clean Energy: SRMAP’s Breakthrough in Fuel Cell Technology with LaFeO3 Perovskiteon April 25, 2024 at 11:47 pm
In the quest for sustainable energy solutions to meet the soaring global energy demands, an innovative breakthrough has emerged from the laboratories of SRM University-AP, situated in the picturesque ...
- Teen brothers teach Alberta students about microbial fuel cell technologyon April 25, 2024 at 3:39 pm
Aaron Tan, 16, is in Grade 11, at Calgary's Westmount Charter Mid-High School, while his brother Justin Tan, 15, is in Grade 9. It was just last year that the pair decided to share their love of ...
- Barley plants fine-tune their root microbial communities through sugary secretionson April 25, 2024 at 11:00 am
Different types of barley recruit distinct communities of soil microbes to grow around their roots by releasing a custom mix of sugars and other compounds, according to a new study led by Jacob Malone ...
- How the Navy Is Fighting Climate Change With Action on Clean Energyon April 24, 2024 at 11:42 am
The U.S. military is the world's largest single source of climate pollution. Work at the Naval Research Laboratory offers greener fuel for sailors and Marines.
- NASA Rover Reaches Promising Place to Search for Fossilised Life on Marson April 24, 2024 at 9:56 am
While we go about our daily lives on Earth, a nuclear-powered robot the size of a small car is trundling around Mars looking for fossils.
- Yeast Fuel, Developed by Chula's Faculty of Science Soon to Expand Its Production for the Aerospace Industryon April 23, 2024 at 9:27 am
Researchers from Chulalongkorn University have made use of forage grass to feed microorganisms and convert the resulting fat into jet fuel. They aim to expand petroleum-based oil replacement ...
via Bing News
The Latest on: Fuel cell
- Alberta wants more hydrogen vehicles. Experts say fuel infrastructure needs to come with themon April 27, 2024 at 6:00 am
Experts say building Alberta's hydrogen-fuelled transportation sector means working through a big question: Which comes first, the hydrogen vehicles, or the fuelling stations?
- Varanasi pilot location for deployment of green hydrogen fuel cell inland vessels on NW-Ion April 27, 2024 at 4:15 am
New Delhi, Varanasi has been selected as the pilot location for deployment of green hydrogen fuel cell inland vessels on National Waterways-I, aligning with the government's Harit Nauka guidelines, an ...
- California Welcomes First Big-Rig Hydrogen Fuel Station in U.S.on April 26, 2024 at 9:08 am
The country’s first commercial hydrogen fuel station for big-rig trucks is up and running at the Port of Oakland, a step toward what hydrogen proponents see as a clean new future for long-haul ...
- 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”.
- LaFeO3 Perovskite Fuel Cell Technology Boosts SRMAP's Clean Energy Missionon April 26, 2024 at 6:45 am
The significance of this invention cannot be understated in an era where the reliance on clean and efficient energy conversion methods is paramount ...
- Wireless Trains and Fuel Economy - IDTechEx Explores the Potential Behind Electric and Zero-Emission Trainson April 26, 2024 at 6:00 am
BOSTON, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Trains that could travel to more tucked-away parts of the country with zero emissions are an example of the potential behind battery electric (BEV) and fuel cell ...
- The first big-rig hydrogen fuel station in the US opens in Californiaon April 26, 2024 at 4:39 am
The small station, now serving 30 hydrogen fuel-cell trucks, could mark the start of a nationwide network for fuel-cell truck refueling. It could also flop. The challenges are immense. Hydrogen fuel ...
- RICE develops new underwater robot with a buoyancy control system using fuel cellson April 26, 2024 at 4:31 am
Rice University students have made a breakthrough in underwater robotics by creating a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that utilizes water-splitting fuel cells for buoyancy control. This innovative ...
- GILLIG to develop hydrogen fuel cell powered buson April 25, 2024 at 9:05 am
GILLIG is collaborating with BAE Systems and Ballard Power Systems on the development of the hydrogen fuel cell bus.
- Nigeria implements regional fuel standards, regulator clarifieson April 25, 2024 at 8:24 am
Nigeria's oil regulator on Thursday clarified that recent changes to fuel sulphur content standards for diesel are part of a regional harmonisation effort, not a relaxation of regulations for local ...
via Bing News