Electrooxidation of crude glycerol as waste from biodiesel in a nanofluidic fuel cell using Cu@Pd/C and Cu@Pt/C. (1st November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maya-Cornejo, J.; Guerra-Balcázar, M.; Arjona, N.; Álvarez-Contreras, L.; Rodríguez Valadez, Francisco J.; Gurrola, M.P.; Ledesma-García, J.; Arriaga, L.G.
• Is Part Of: Fuel. Volume 183(2016)
• Page Start: 195
• Page End: 205
• Publication Date: 2016-11-01
• Subjects: Glycerol -- Biodiesel by-product -- Cu@Pt -- Electrocatalysts -- Membraneless fuel cell; Fuel -- Periodicals; Coal -- Periodicals; Coal; Fuel; Periodicals; 662.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2016.06.075
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-2361

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Electrooxidation of crude glycerol as by-product of the biodiesel production in an air-breathing membraneless nanofluidic fuel cell. Highlights: Synthesis of Cu@Pt/C core-shell electrocatalyst by a chemical reduction. Electrooxidation of crude glycerol in alkaline media. Use of glycerol as fuel in air-breathing membraneless nanofluidic fuel cell. Use of Cu@Pt/C and Cu@Pd/C electrocatalysts as anodes. Highest cell performances using Cu@Pt/C and Cu@Pd/C as electrocatalyst. Abstract: Glycerol is the primary by-product of the transesterification of vegetable oils in the presence of acidic or alkaline catalysts during biodiesel production. In this study, crude glycerol was employed as fuel in an air-breathing membraneless nanofluidic fuel cell operated at room temperature under alkaline conditions. Cu@Pt/C and Cu@Pd/C were synthesized via a chemical reduction method and used as anode electrocatalysts; X-ray patterns revealed a face-centered cubic structure with crystallite sizes of 4 and 10 nm, respectively. Pt/C and Pd/C (from ETEK) were used for comparative purposes. Higher cell performances were obtained using Cu@Pt/C as electrocatalyst showing high capability to oxidize crude glycerol, resulting in power densities of 23 mW cm −2 for analytical glycerol and 21.8 mW cm −2 for crude glycerol at room temperature. With these results a novel and environmentally friendly application for the crude glycerol considered as waste in small energy-supplier devices is demonstrated.