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 (469.9m(2)g(-1)) and BCc (428.6cm(2)g(-1)) is lower than granular activated carbon (GAC) (1247.8m(2)g(-1)) but higher than graphite granule (GG) (0.44m(2)g(-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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, United States.
authors.forename: Tyler
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huggins
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, United States.
authors.forename: Heming
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, United States.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kearns
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Denver, CO 80204, United States.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, United States. Electronic address: jason.ren@colorado.edu.
authors.forename: Zhiyong Jason
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Ren
mesh_terms: D061249:Batch Cell Culture Techniques; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D019149:Bioreactors; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004560:Electricity; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004566:Electrodes; D016062:Porosity
chemical_list: C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal
keywords: Biochar; Bioelectrochemical; Electricity; Electrode; Microbial fuel cell