Researchers at Pennsylvania State University have developed a method to generate electricity from household wastewater by routing the organics-rich chowder through a type of ‘bacterial fuel cell,’ where naturally occurring bacteria convert the organic matter to its base parts, generating electrons in the process. These stripped-off electrons can then be harvesting via the fuel cell for energy use. As a side-benefit, the wastewater is made cleaner in the process, easing the workload of down-line sewage treatment plants.
