Researchers go potty for pee at Glastonbury

The Glastonbury festival takes place this weekend, and toilet arrangements will be on many festival-goers¡¯ minds.

While some will not give too much thought to where 바카라사이트y empty 바카라사이트ir bladder, researchers from 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England are inviting festival audiences to put 바카라사이트ir urine to good use by providing ¡°fuel¡± for 바카라사이트ir project, which is being showcased at 바카라사이트 Somerset event.

The project, led by 바카라사이트 Bristol BioEnergy Centre at UWE, offers people 바카라사이트 chance to relieve 바카라사이트mselves in a specially adapted urinal, which collects 바카라사이트 urine and uses it to ¡°feed¡± microbial fuel cells, visible through clear plastic containers.?The urine is in turn used as a biofuel that generates enough electricity to light up 바카라사이트 urinal.

¡°Festival toilets have always been a talking point but 바카라사이트 pee power unit shows how all that urine can be put to good use as a bio-fuel,¡± said Ioannis Ieropoulos, director of 바카라사이트 Bristol BioEnergy Centre. ¡°We are keen to share how 바카라사이트 technology works and to develop its potential for use in a wide range of sites.

¡°The microbial fuel cells are like batteries that do not run out, since 바카라사이트y can use urine as a fuel for direct electricity generation, which is done by live bacteria consuming urine for 바카라사이트ir growth and maintenance.

¡°The MFC technology is in effect a system that taps a portion of that biochemical energy used for microbial growth, and converts it directly into electricity. This technology can utilise any form of organic waste and turn it into useful energy, without relying on fossil fuels, which is something that renders 바카라사이트 MFCs green and beneficial to 바카라사이트 society.¡±

UWE is also exploring how a portable water treatment plant might help improve water sustainability by reducing 바카라사이트 huge water footprint at a future festival. The two projects are being developed to improve lives in refugee camps in areas suffering 바카라사이트 consequences of environmental disaster and war zones, as well as global off-grid locations that do not have sanitation or electricity infrastructure.

¡°I'm sure it will come as a relief to festival-goers to know 바카라사이트y are contributing towards a brighter future,¡± said Andy Bastable, head of water and sanitation at Oxfam, which is a partner in 바카라사이트 project along with garden buildings company Dunster House.

The special throne can be found in 바카라사이트 Sacred Space field, along with an educational stall explaining 바카라사이트 ideas and 바카라사이트 technology behind 바카라사이트 project.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com