Microbial fuel cells turn waste into energy, education
Dan Woznica
Issue date: 1/25/08 Section: News
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The recipient of the funding, called the Career grant, is Lars Angenent, assistant professor of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering. Angenent will research microbial fuel cells (MFC), which convert waste into electricity.
The draw of MFC technology, however, lies not in the electricity it produces but in the energy and money it saves. The technology also allows the process to occur at a lower temperature.
"About two percent of all the energy used in the country goes to wastewater treatment," said Angenent. But with the MFC, which reduces the energy required for waste breakdown, "you can actually use waste to generate energy."
"It saves a lot of money, too," said Miriam Rosenbaum, a post-doctoral research associate in Environmental Chemistry who is working closely with Angenent to develop the technology.
In addition to developing MFC technology, Angenent will create an accompanying booklet of science lessons relating to the cell and will incorporate his research into university and high school lab courses. He hopes that high schools and universities across the country will use his findings.
The MFC has already been integrated into lab work for the undergraduate course "Introduction to Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering," and will also be used in a bioprocessing class and molecular biology lab for graduate students.
Furthermore, MFC technology will be taught in the science departments at Hazelwood Central High in Florissant, MO.
Between 100 and 120 students from the high school will study the MFC as a part of their biology and chemistry courses. They will then visit the University once or twice a year to work with the cells using the new technology.
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