University of Bath scientists working on SMFCs for green energy

Scientists at the University of Bath are involving the microorganisms in the soil to produce electricity that could one day help decontaminate polluted landscapes.

A team has already used clean technology to help remote communities in Brazil purify their water supply.

They are soon to launch a start-up to bring soil microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) to a commercial market. The researchers hope SMFCs can help the world end its reliance on fossil fuels. SMFCs only generate tiny amounts of electricity, but unlike established renewable technologies it does not rely on materials that are difficult or unsustainable to the source. The soil microbial fuel cells can generate reliable and low-cost energy.

It also does not add to the growing problem of e-waste once it reaches the end of its life in the way that solar panels and batteries currently do.

In 2019, the team conducted a pilot in a semi-arid fishing village in the northeast of Brazil which is reliant on water stored from the rainy season for use throughout the rest of the year.

The community usually uses chloride to disinfect the water, which can cause health problems such as vomiting and diarrhoea when consumed in large amounts.

Water can be made safe using an electrochemical reactor that generates oxidants to purify the water through the application of a current, but this can be problematic for remote communities because it requires a reliable source of energy.

The University of Bath team has successfully powered the reactor through a stack of MFCs, and their latest version of the technology is able to purify enough water per day to meet the needs of a family of five.

The team has funding from the European Commission for a project to use MFC technology to decontaminate fossil fuel pollutants in soil.