澳洲科學家正與啤酒製造商Foster's合作，從釀酒廠的廢水中，開發能產生乾淨電能的技術。這項實驗性新技術於2日首度在澳洲昆士蘭大學公開，研究團隊也在州政府11.5萬美元的資助下，於鄰近布里斯本的Foster’s集團啤酒釀造廠內，裝設一顆微生物燃料電池。
這顆燃料電池基本上是取自細菌攝食釀造後水溶性糟粕的原理，像是糖、澱粉與酒精等。
校內廢水處理專家凱勒（Jurg Keller）教授指出，這類電池可以同時產生電能和乾淨的水，而釀造廠內高度濃縮且生物可以分解的廢水就是絕佳的來源，因為這些條件有助於提升電池的功率。
教授預估燃料電池將可製造出2000瓦的電量，相當於一個一般家庭的用電量，這個新技術最後將會全面應用在Foster’s的啤酒釀造廠內。
Scientists and Australian beer maker Foster's are teaming up to generate clean energy from brewery waste water. The experimental technology was unveiled Wednesday by scientists at Australia's University of Queensland, which was given a $115,000 state government grant to install a microbial fuel cell at a Foster's Group brewery near Brisbane.
The fuel cell is essentially a battery in which bacteria consume water-soluble brewing waste such as sugar, starch and alcohol.
The battery produces electricity plus clean water, said Prof. Jurg Keller, the university's wastewater expert. "Brewery waste water is a particularly good source because it is very biodegradable ... and is highly concentrated, which does help in improving the performance of the cell," Keller said.
He expected the brewery cell would produce 2 kilowatts of power -- enough to power a household -- and the technology would eventually be applied in other breweries and wineries owned by Foster's.
全文及圖片詳見 ENN報導
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
