Title Fabrication and characterization of environmentally friendly biochar anode
Authors Kiminaitė, Ieva ; Lisauskas, Aurimas ; Striūgas, Nerijus ; Kryževičius, Žilvinas
DOI 10.3390/en15010112
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Is Part of Energies.. Basel : MDPI AG. 2022, vol. 15, no. 1, art. no. 112, p. 1-13.. eISSN 1996-1073
Keywords [eng] microbial fuel cells ; activated biochar ; biochar anode ; environmentally friendly binder
Abstract [eng] Electrical power generation by means of electrochemical systems utilizing wastewaters is a global energy challenge tackling technique for which a creation of novel eco-friendly electrode materials is in high relevance. For this purpose a Rhodophyta algae derived activated biochar anode bound with a flaxseeds mucilage binder (5, 10, 20, 30 wt.%) was formed and characterized by thermogravimetric, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis as well as conductivity and mechanical resistance determination. Activation technique with KOH prior to carbonization at 800 °C of algae was employed to obtain biocarbon with a large surface area. The highest specific surface area of 1298.49 m2/g was obtained with the binder-free sample and had a tendency to decrease with the increase of the binder content. It was estimated that biochar anodes are thermally stable at the temperature of up to 200 °C regardless of binder concentration. The concentration of the binder on the other hand had a significant influence in anodes mechanical resistance and electrical conductance: anode with 30 wt.% of the binder had the highest compressive strength equal to 104 bar; however, the highest conductivity was estimated in anode with 5 wt.% of the binder equal to 58 S/m. It is concluded that anode with 10 wt.% mucilage binder has the optimal properties necessary in MFC utilization.
Published Basel : MDPI AG
Type Journal article
Language English
Publication date 2022
CC license CC license description