A New Technology Breaks Through: 1000-Litre Microbial Fuel Cell Generates Pure Water and Electricity

biotechnet Switzerland

Abstract

For years, researchers led by Professor Fabian Fischer at HES-SO Valais have been concentrating on microbial fuel cells, also called bio-electrochemical systems, which use electrogenic bacteria to generate electricity. Their latest innovation is a device consisting of about 14 metres of joined-up microbial fuel cells, housed in the 'catacombs' – a series of underground tunnels – beneath the wastewater treatment plant in Sion. It uses bio-electrogenic rather than aerobic microbes for the primary purpose of producing energy and purified water, but also to save electricity.