ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Bioelectrochemical reactor

A bioelectrochemical reactor is a special kind of container that helps to break down things using electricity and living organisms. Imagine you have a box with some bugs in it and they are eating wooden blocks that you put inside. When the bugs eat, they create waste and sometimes gas. If you put a wire inside, the electrical energy can be harnessed as the bugs break down the material.

Bioelectrochemical reactors are used to break down all sorts of things like poop, urine, and food waste. They contain tiny living organisms that help to speed up the process of breaking down the waste inside. These organisms are able to use the electricity in the reactor to make chemical reactions happen faster.

The reactor has two sides: one that is positively charged (anode) and one that is negatively charged (cathode). The bugs are living on the anode side and they break down the waste into smaller parts. As they do this, they create electrons which are sent over to the cathode side. This movement of electrons creates electricity that we can use to power things like lights and computers!

So basically, a bioelectrochemical reactor is like a box full of little bugs that eat waste and create electricity at the same time. It's a really cool way to help the environment by providing sustainable energy while also getting rid of waste.