Palakkad: A research team from Palakkad IIT has come up with an innovative way of producing renewable energy and biofertilizers from urine. After tasting success in the initial experimental phase, the team published their findings in an online journal called 'Seperation and Purification Technology' which is available on the website called 'Science Direct'.  

The team is preparing to step into the next stage of their research by trying to repeat the feat using human urine.

The innovative research is headed by Assistant Professor Dr Praveena Gangadharan. 

The team comprising Sangeetha V, Research Scholar, Dr. Sreejith PM, Project Scientist, and Rinu Anna Koshy, Research Associate, Department of Civil Engineering, harnessed the ionic strength of urine and induced electrochemical reactions to create electricity and nutrient-rich biofertilizer.

So far, the team spent Rs 20,000 to gather the materials required for the research. However, it is still unclear how much it will cost to produce the energy commercially.   

The team started the experiments a couple of years ago using the central government funds. They have now applied for a patent.

The urine-fed, self-driven stacked electrochemical resource recovery reactor integrates an electrochemical reactor, ammonia adsorption column, decolourization, and chlorination chamber, along with plumbing and electrical manifolds. This system offers a dual benefit of power generation for recharging smartphones and lamps and sustainable agriculture, it says on IIT-Palakkad's website. 

The project caught the attention of the people at the IInvenTiv fair held in Hyderabad.