Biochar as a sustainable electrode material for electricity production in microbial fuel cells

Tyler Huggins; Heming Wang; Joshua Kearns; Peter Jenkins; Zhiyong Jason Ren

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2014.01.058

Biochar as a sustainable electrode material for electricity production in microbial fuel cells

Tyler Huggins, Heming Wang, Joshua Kearns, Peter Jenkins, Zhiyong Jason Ren

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

298 Scopus citations

Abstract

Wood-based biochars were used as microbial fuel cell electrodes to significantly reduce cost and carbon footprint. The biochar was made using forestry residue (BCc) and compressed milling residue (BCp). Side-by-side comparison show the specific area of BCp (469.9m²g^-1) and BCc (428.6cm²g^-1) is lower than granular activated carbon (GAC) (1247.8m²g^-1) but higher than graphite granule (GG) (0.44m²g^-1). Both biochars showed power outputs of 532±18mWm^-2 (BCp) and 457±20mWm^-2 (BCc), comparable with GAC (674±10mWm^-2) and GG (566±5mWm^-2). However, lower material expenses made their power output cost 17-35US$W^-1, 90% cheaper than GAC (402US$W^-1) or GG (392US$W^-1). Biochar from waste also reduced the energy and carbon footprint associated with electrode manufacturing and the disposal of which could have additional agronomic benefits.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	114-119
Number of pages	6
Journal	Bioresource Technology
Volume	157
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.01.058
State	Published - Apr 2014
Externally published	Yes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Bioengineering
Waste Management and Disposal
Environmental Engineering
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Keywords

Biochar
Bioelectrochemical
Electricity
Electrode
Microbial fuel cell

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10.1016/j.biortech.2014.01.058

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title = "Biochar as a sustainable electrode material for electricity production in microbial fuel cells",

abstract = "Wood-based biochars were used as microbial fuel cell electrodes to significantly reduce cost and carbon footprint. The biochar was made using forestry residue (BCc) and compressed milling residue (BCp). Side-by-side comparison show the specific area of BCp (469.9m2g-1) and BCc (428.6cm2g-1) is lower than granular activated carbon (GAC) (1247.8m2g-1) but higher than graphite granule (GG) (0.44m2g-1). Both biochars showed power outputs of 532±18mWm-2 (BCp) and 457±20mWm-2 (BCc), comparable with GAC (674±10mWm-2) and GG (566±5mWm-2). However, lower material expenses made their power output cost 17-35US$W-1, 90% cheaper than GAC (402US$W-1) or GG (392US$W-1). Biochar from waste also reduced the energy and carbon footprint associated with electrode manufacturing and the disposal of which could have additional agronomic benefits.",

keywords = "Biochar, Bioelectrochemical, Electricity, Electrode, Microbial fuel cell",

author = "Tyler Huggins and Heming Wang and Joshua Kearns and Peter Jenkins and Ren, {Zhiyong Jason}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation{\textquoteright}s Grand Challenges Explorations Grant OPP1043362 and the Office of Naval Research University Laboratory Initiative Grant N000141210293 . ",

year = "2014",

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doi = "10.1016/j.biortech.2014.01.058",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "157",

pages = "114--119",

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T1 - Biochar as a sustainable electrode material for electricity production in microbial fuel cells

AU - Huggins, Tyler

AU - Wang, Heming

AU - Kearns, Joshua

AU - Jenkins, Peter

AU - Ren, Zhiyong Jason

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Grand Challenges Explorations Grant OPP1043362 and the Office of Naval Research University Laboratory Initiative Grant N000141210293 .

PY - 2014/4

Y1 - 2014/4

N2 - Wood-based biochars were used as microbial fuel cell electrodes to significantly reduce cost and carbon footprint. The biochar was made using forestry residue (BCc) and compressed milling residue (BCp). Side-by-side comparison show the specific area of BCp (469.9m2g-1) and BCc (428.6cm2g-1) is lower than granular activated carbon (GAC) (1247.8m2g-1) but higher than graphite granule (GG) (0.44m2g-1). Both biochars showed power outputs of 532±18mWm-2 (BCp) and 457±20mWm-2 (BCc), comparable with GAC (674±10mWm-2) and GG (566±5mWm-2). However, lower material expenses made their power output cost 17-35US$W-1, 90% cheaper than GAC (402US$W-1) or GG (392US$W-1). Biochar from waste also reduced the energy and carbon footprint associated with electrode manufacturing and the disposal of which could have additional agronomic benefits.

AB - Wood-based biochars were used as microbial fuel cell electrodes to significantly reduce cost and carbon footprint. The biochar was made using forestry residue (BCc) and compressed milling residue (BCp). Side-by-side comparison show the specific area of BCp (469.9m2g-1) and BCc (428.6cm2g-1) is lower than granular activated carbon (GAC) (1247.8m2g-1) but higher than graphite granule (GG) (0.44m2g-1). Both biochars showed power outputs of 532±18mWm-2 (BCp) and 457±20mWm-2 (BCc), comparable with GAC (674±10mWm-2) and GG (566±5mWm-2). However, lower material expenses made their power output cost 17-35US$W-1, 90% cheaper than GAC (402US$W-1) or GG (392US$W-1). Biochar from waste also reduced the energy and carbon footprint associated with electrode manufacturing and the disposal of which could have additional agronomic benefits.

KW - Biochar

KW - Bioelectrochemical

KW - Electricity

KW - Electrode

KW - Microbial fuel cell

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Biochar as a sustainable electrode material for electricity production in microbial fuel cells

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

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