Pee into Power
July 18, 2013 4:15 AM Subscribe
Scientists working at England’s Bristol Robotics Laboratory have developed a technique for converting urine into electrons, enough to power a cell phone.
The article references a urine-powered generator in Africa, but the concept exists elsewhere. It may be possible to power your car with pee or recharge your cell phone with pee.
posted by twoleftfeet at 4:28 AM on July 18, 2013
posted by twoleftfeet at 4:28 AM on July 18, 2013
The BBC World News podcast has a segment on this with some reactions on the street, including one woman who just cannot stop laughing about it. Maybe our future will actually be awesome, humorous, and slightly self-deprecating.
posted by mtrichardson at 4:29 AM on July 18, 2013
posted by mtrichardson at 4:29 AM on July 18, 2013
The project proposal summary from the university site.
The extended version with further reading included.
This is a Gates Foundation project grant, so sane people are involved.
posted by jaduncan at 4:30 AM on July 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
The extended version with further reading included.
This is a Gates Foundation project grant, so sane people are involved.
posted by jaduncan at 4:30 AM on July 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
"Back in a jiffy. Just need to go recharge my phone..."
posted by jim in austin at 4:34 AM on July 18, 2013
posted by jim in austin at 4:34 AM on July 18, 2013
I think it's a plot to get the gullible to pee on their iPhones.
posted by Slap*Happy at 4:34 AM on July 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Slap*Happy at 4:34 AM on July 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
It's actually a pretty serious thing. Actually doable and viable. Not a bad way to generate electricity in some places.
But so goddamn funny that it's hard to get people to take it seriously.
posted by twoleftfeet at 4:36 AM on July 18, 2013
But so goddamn funny that it's hard to get people to take it seriously.
posted by twoleftfeet at 4:36 AM on July 18, 2013
The research team has developed microbial fuel cells that consume carbohydrates, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, and other compounds that would otherwise go down the drain. If you can get past the gross-out factor, the benefits to places in the developing world and elsewhere that lack reliable (or affordable) sources of electricity are obvious.
This doesn't make much sense to me. For one thing, most of the energy has to be coming from the carbs. For another, if you have significant carbs in your pee, don't you have diabetes?
Probably a better source of energy would be to just throw grass and bark in there. Termites, cows and other herbivores manage to extract energy from that. Get their gut bacteria on the case breaking it down to sugar that the fuel cell can process.
posted by DU at 4:39 AM on July 18, 2013
This doesn't make much sense to me. For one thing, most of the energy has to be coming from the carbs. For another, if you have significant carbs in your pee, don't you have diabetes?
Probably a better source of energy would be to just throw grass and bark in there. Termites, cows and other herbivores manage to extract energy from that. Get their gut bacteria on the case breaking it down to sugar that the fuel cell can process.
posted by DU at 4:39 AM on July 18, 2013
Her electrolyzer uses a nickel-based electrode to extract hydrogen from urea (NH2)2CO, the main component in urine. Hydrogen is less tightly bound to the nitrogen in urea than to the oxygen in water, so the electrolyzer needs just 0.37 volts across the cell to oxidize the urea, according to Botte. That’s less than half the amount of energy in an AA battery and considerably less than the 1.23 volts needed to split water.
(From one of the links that Make doesn't deign to provide.)
OK, that's interesting.
posted by DU at 4:44 AM on July 18, 2013
(From one of the links that Make doesn't deign to provide.)
OK, that's interesting.
posted by DU at 4:44 AM on July 18, 2013
Could you power a pub on the piss of its patrons?
posted by pracowity at 4:46 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by pracowity at 4:46 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
But so goddamn funny that it's hard to get people to take it seriously.
Indeed, at first glance you might think the scientists involved are just taking the piss.
posted by Dr Dracator at 4:49 AM on July 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
Indeed, at first glance you might think the scientists involved are just taking the piss.
posted by Dr Dracator at 4:49 AM on July 18, 2013 [2 favorites]
The amount of energy is currently low, so the cellphone thing is a bit misleading.
posted by jaduncan at 4:49 AM on July 18, 2013
Although the amount of electricity produced by the [car battery sized] fuel cell is relatively small – only enough for a single call on the mobile – researcher believe it might be installed in bathrooms in the future, helping to power electric razors, toothbrushes and lights.That said, depending on the cost I can see this being awesome in the third world for powering house lighting LEDs or OLED strips right now.
posted by jaduncan at 4:49 AM on July 18, 2013
This puts a new spin on slogans like "power to the people."
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:53 AM on July 18, 2013
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:53 AM on July 18, 2013
I'd invest but I'm so poor I don't have a phone to piss in.
posted by jiroczech at 4:58 AM on July 18, 2013
posted by jiroczech at 4:58 AM on July 18, 2013
If I were writing up this research I'd absolutely title it: "How to siphon the python for the iphone".
posted by MuffinMan at 4:58 AM on July 18, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by MuffinMan at 4:58 AM on July 18, 2013 [3 favorites]
I can't read the article from here, but...
we're not talking about some kind of water wheel here, are we?
posted by ShutterBun at 5:04 AM on July 18, 2013 [7 favorites]
we're not talking about some kind of water wheel here, are we?
posted by ShutterBun at 5:04 AM on July 18, 2013 [7 favorites]
I'm secretly disappointed that the lab photo didn't have a giant foam hand with "#1" on it, somewhere in the background.
posted by avoision at 5:22 AM on July 18, 2013
posted by avoision at 5:22 AM on July 18, 2013
Wee'r Number One!
posted by Joe in Australia at 5:24 AM on July 18, 2013
posted by Joe in Australia at 5:24 AM on July 18, 2013
I feel less embarrassed about the one cell phone I destroyed. I was just ahead of my time.
posted by yerfatma at 5:28 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by yerfatma at 5:28 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
How long until I can power my cabin in the woods on the outhouse?
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 5:30 AM on July 18, 2013
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 5:30 AM on July 18, 2013
we're not talking about some kind of water wheel here, are we?
I think you've just come up with a great way to increase the output!
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 5:31 AM on July 18, 2013
I think you've just come up with a great way to increase the output!
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 5:31 AM on July 18, 2013
I was in the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam and sure enough, they really do have a little picture of a fly embedded in the urinal to improve your aim.
So I was thinking about how to use this for the greater good, much the same way that reCAPTCHA is using captchas to help digitize books.
My concept is that the urinal has some kind of screen, and it presents the faces of people who currently have cases pending at court. The public could decide, based on the urinal faces, who was guilty or innocent. If enough people peed on one face, the urinal justice system would find that person guilty.
posted by twoleftfeet at 5:44 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
So I was thinking about how to use this for the greater good, much the same way that reCAPTCHA is using captchas to help digitize books.
My concept is that the urinal has some kind of screen, and it presents the faces of people who currently have cases pending at court. The public could decide, based on the urinal faces, who was guilty or innocent. If enough people peed on one face, the urinal justice system would find that person guilty.
posted by twoleftfeet at 5:44 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
>> we're not talking about some kind of water wheel here, are we?
> I think you've just come up with a great way to increase the output!
Wouldn't this be pissing in the wind?
posted by de at 5:52 AM on July 18, 2013
> I think you've just come up with a great way to increase the output!
Wouldn't this be pissing in the wind?
posted by de at 5:52 AM on July 18, 2013
....power a pub on the piss of its patrons?....
Positively, pal, particularly in Portland, Pittsburg, Pensacola, or
(wait for it)......
Peoria.
posted by HuronBob at 7:01 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
Positively, pal, particularly in Portland, Pittsburg, Pensacola, or
(wait for it)......
Peoria.
posted by HuronBob at 7:01 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
helping to power electric razors, toothbrushes and lights
Yeah, when I am way out of the way and off-grid, the first thing that I try to get happening is power for my electric razor and electric toothbrush!
posted by Meatbomb at 7:09 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
Yeah, when I am way out of the way and off-grid, the first thing that I try to get happening is power for my electric razor and electric toothbrush!
posted by Meatbomb at 7:09 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
So...this means the future of energy lies in our precious bodily fluids?
posted by yoink at 7:18 AM on July 18, 2013
posted by yoink at 7:18 AM on July 18, 2013
Alright jokers, try you hands at #2: New Toilet Turns Human Waste Into Electricity and Fertilizer
posted by dobie at 7:21 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by dobie at 7:21 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
try you hands at #2
Thanks all the same, but...
posted by yoink at 7:28 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
Thanks all the same, but...
posted by yoink at 7:28 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
"Alright jokers, try you hands at #2: New Toilet Turns Human Waste Into Electricity and Fertilizer"
posted by dobie
Not Found. Er, how did you manage to misplace that?
posted by marienbad at 7:29 AM on July 18, 2013
posted by dobie
Not Found. Er, how did you manage to misplace that?
posted by marienbad at 7:29 AM on July 18, 2013
Interesting, but the shoddy reporting is disappointing. Nothing is being "converted into electrons" and volts are not a unit of energy.
posted by rocket88 at 7:32 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by rocket88 at 7:32 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
A man on the street in Boston was overheard saying "This is wicked pissah."
posted by ZenMasterThis at 8:02 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by ZenMasterThis at 8:02 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
As a successful project with a tested engineering principle, which may make people laugh first, and think after, this may be a firm candidate for an Ig-Nobel Prize. That should not detract from the usefulness of the idea.
posted by The Zeroth Law at 8:14 AM on July 18, 2013
posted by The Zeroth Law at 8:14 AM on July 18, 2013
This is perfect, because I happen to have developed a technique for converting beer into urine.
posted by solotoro at 8:18 AM on July 18, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by solotoro at 8:18 AM on July 18, 2013 [5 favorites]
A good-sized bar could generate 1.21 jigger watts.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:18 AM on July 18, 2013
posted by mr_crash_davis at 9:18 AM on July 18, 2013
This is going to give a whole new meaning to "taking the piss out of someone".
It'll be a whole new type of street crime: "give me your wallet and then piss in this container or else!"
posted by Hairy Lobster at 9:32 AM on July 18, 2013
It'll be a whole new type of street crime: "give me your wallet and then piss in this container or else!"
posted by Hairy Lobster at 9:32 AM on July 18, 2013
Alright jokers, try you hands at #2: New Toilet Turns Human Waste Into Electricity and Fertilizer
Ack, sorry. link is here
posted by dobie at 10:34 AM on July 18, 2013
Ack, sorry. link is here
posted by dobie at 10:34 AM on July 18, 2013
It'll be a whole new type of street crime: "give me your wallet and then piss in this container or else!"
"If you think I'm gonna power your phone for you, then urine for a surprise, buddy!"
posted by Noms_Tiem at 10:51 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
"If you think I'm gonna power your phone for you, then urine for a surprise, buddy!"
posted by Noms_Tiem at 10:51 AM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
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