Energy Capture from Thermolytic Solutions in Microbial Reverse-Electrodialysis Cells

Abstract

Waste Not The organic matter in wastewater is a potentially vast and sustainable energy source; however, most wastewater treatment plants consume energy. Cusick et al. (p. 1474 , published online 1 March) combined a microbial fuel cell with a reverse-electrodialysis system to boost the voltage output and the power density over a simple microbial fuel cell. The use of ammonium bicarbonate as a fuel for reverse electrodialysis while microorganisms simultaneously turn organic matter into electricity not only allows for the capturing of waste heat, but could eventually produce enough energy to offset the energy used in conventional wastewater treatment systems.