I-Corps: Microbial Fuel Cells for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment and Energy Generation

在美国和其他发达国家，废水处理约占电能消耗的3%。分散式废水处理是废水行业讨论的前沿，由于需要以经济有效的方式缓解当前废水处理基础设施的压力，分散式废水处理已开始在美国的小城市和城市中实施。微生物燃料电池（MFC）技术已成为可再生能源生产和分散式污水处理的潜在清洁技术。相对较低的功率密度一直是MFC技术在废水处理中的实际应用所面临的最大挑战。最近，研究人员通过开发一种显著提高功率密度的反应堆设计（CEA-MFC），进一步推进了这项技术。在这个项目中，团队将制作一个示范CEA-MFC。该项目的成功完成将有助于更好地理解围绕该技术广泛使用的关键因素。cea -MFC的表现表明，MFC技术在将废水处理从能源消耗者转变为净能源生产者，以及减少与废物处理有关的化石燃料消耗和温室气体排放方面具有巨大潜力。在美国，这对市政基础设施、工业和农业都有好处。在发展中国家努力建设基础设施、改善卫生条件和电力供应的过程中，这项技术也可能对它们有益。

Wastewater treatment accounts for about 3% of electrical energy consumed in U.S and other developed countries. Decentralized wastewater treatment is at the forefront of the wastewater industry discussion and is starting to be implemented by small municipalities and cities across the U.S. due to the need to cost effectively relieve pressure on the current wastewater treatment infrastructure. Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology has emerged as a potential clean technology for renewable energy production and decentralized wastewater treatment. Relatively low power density has been the greatest challenge for practical application of MFC technology in wastewater treatment. Recently, researchers have advanced this technology by developing a reactor design (CEA-MFC) that significantly increases the power density. In this project, the team will fabricate a demonstration CEA-MFC. Successful completion of the project will result in better understanding of key factors surrounding widespread use of this technology. The performance of CEA-MFCs demonstrates the great potential of MFC technology in converting wastewater treatment from an energy consumer to a net energy producer, as well as reducing fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse emission related to waste treatment. Within the U.S. this could have benefits to the U.S. municipal infrastructure, industry and agriculture. This technology could also be beneficial to developing countries as they work to build infrastructure and improve sanitation and availability of power.