When we defecate and squeeze, dirt gets into the sewer. But what if dirt that is considered useless garbage is turned into useful energy?
That’s what researchers at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in South Korea have done. They have created a toilet dubbed the BeeVi that can dispose of garbage and turn it into energy.
The BeeVi toilet is equipped with a vacuum pump that sends human waste to an underground tank. The microorganisms in the tank then convert the waste into methane, which acts as an energy source for buildings and powers gas stoves, hot water boilers and solid oxide fuel cells.
According to Professor Jae-weon who led the study, the average person defecates nearly 500g a day. This can be converted into 50 liters of methane gas which can produce 0.5kWh of energy.
That amount of power is said to be enough to move the car for 1.2 km. Human waste can be used to produce fertilizer in the laboratory.
"If we think outside the box, fertilizer has a valuable value for making energy and fertilizer. I have incorporated this value into the ecological circulation," Professor Jae-weon said.
In addition to turning human waste into energy, professor Jae-weon has also created a virtual currency, Ggool, which is given to students who use BeeVi toilets.
One can earn up to ten Ggools a day. Virtual money can be used to buy items such as coffee, instant noodles, fruit, and books on the UNIST campus.
Tags
SCIENCES
