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Toxic Waste to Electricity

ACID MINE DRAINAGE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, BUT SCIENTISTS MAY HAVE AN ELECTRIFYING SOLUTION.  LEARN HOW THEY’RE TURNING TOXIC WASTE INTO ELECTRICITY ON TODAY'S ENVIRONMINUTE.

ABANDONED MINES CAN CAUSE A LITANY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS ACID MINE DRAINAGE - TOXIC WATER LOADED WITH HEAVY METALS.  BRIAN DEMPSEY, A SCIENTIST AT PENN STATE, IS HELPING DEVISE A WAY TO CLEAN UP ACID MINE DRAINAGE USING FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY.

DEMPSEY: A FUEL CELL’S REALLY JUST A BATTERY.  THAT’S ALL IT IS.

DEMPSEY SAYS THAT WHEN TOXIC ACID MINE DRAINAGE FLOWS THROUGH THIS FUEL CELL, THE IRON DISSOLVED IN THE WASTE IS OXIDIZED.  THIS TURNS IT INTO A RUST-LIKE POWDER THAT CAN BE EASILY REMOVED AND USED IN PAINTS AND OTHER GOODS.  IT ALSO PRODUCES ENOUGH ELECTRICITY TO POWER A FLASHLIGHT.

DEMPSEY SAYS IT’S PROMISING TECHNOLOGY – ESPECIALLY IF THE POWER OUTPUT CAN BE INCREASED.

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Read more about the research from Environmental Science and Technology.

Learn more about fuel cell technology from the Department of Energy.

Learn more about acid mine drainage from the EPA

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