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This Device by Filipino Electronics Engineering
Students Generates Electricity Out of Wastewater
Yup, wastewater.
When John Paul Santos noticed the
wastewater in the Pasig River which is near
to his school the Polytechnic University of the
Philippines, he had a thought of using such
water to generate electricity. It was a wild
idea then. But being in his second year as
an electronics engineering student, he knew
he had to do something about it. Eventually
he did. Together with fellow electronics
engineering student Christian Sta. Romana,
he developed a device called Electrifilter, or
electricity generation from filthy water, which
does exactly what is called. It can produce
electricity from filthy water which first samples
were from the Pasig River.
The technology relies on the wires at the
top layer of the filter, which reacts once
bacteria from dirty water passes through
hence releasing energy. This is where the
bioelectrochemical process takes place.
Electrifilter can produce enough electricity to
power LED lights, lamp posts, energy stations,
and security system. The PUP tag team intends
this product for use in calamity-stricken and
remote areas in the Philippines where there is
an unfortunate ample amount of wastewater.
Not only that it can generate electricity,
Electrifilter can also cleanse water. Sta.
Romana admits that the output water is not
potable but it can be for general usage like
flushing the toilet and washing dishes.
With which Santos adds, “The main concept we
have is to generate electricity from wastewater.
Clean water is just value added.”
A global specialist in energy management and
automation Schneider Electric helped the two
in developing the device. It provided funds for
the development of the prototype, which cost
P10,000.
Because of the ingenuity of Electrifilter, it
garnered a third-place award in the annual ‘Go
Green in the City’ held in Paris in 2015 among
12 regional champions.
Santos and Sta. Romana represented East
Asia in the international competition organized
and hosted by Schneider Electric. The annual
event is part of the company’s advocacy in
encouraging the youth to dream up ideas and
innovations that can help build the smart cities
of the future.
The Electrifilter they have made is still in its
beta phase. It is still being improved to obtain
the target of producing 1 watt from 1.5 liters of
wastewater, while it is seeking help to secure a
patent.
“But electricity generation does not only
depend on water. There are a number of
principles involved. Right now, I cannot
disclose all the principles, because the
research is ongoing,” Santos said.
Water Leaders • May 2017
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