Microbial fuel cell for harvesting bio-energy from tannery effluent using metal mixed biochar electrodes. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Naveenkumar, M.; Senthilkumar, K.
• Is Part Of: Biomass and bioenergy. Volume 149(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Microbial fuel cell -- Wastewater -- Electrode -- Coconut shell carbon -- Metals -- Microorganism; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Biomass -- Periodicals; Energy-Generating Resources -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; 333.9539
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2021.106082
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0961-9534

Abstract

Abstract: The present study aims on the ways and means of reducing the cost of electrodes and decreasing environment pollution using waste materials. For example, Coconut Shell (CS) materials were used for synthesizing electrodes through carbonization and testing it as the anode in the Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) utilizing tannery effluent. The electrodes were synthesized by using activated coconut shell wastes blended with various metals such as Silicon (Si0.2 ), Zinc (Zn0.2 ), and Copper (Cu0.2 ) with 20%. The specific surface area of CS-Si0.2 (0.1825 m 2 g −1 ), CS-Zn0.2 (0.1900 m 2 g −1 ), and CS-Cu0.2 (0.2162 m 2 g −1 ) is greater than Graphite Particle (GP) (0.1890 m 2 g −1 ). Power output of electrodes were CS-Si0.2 ((16.8 ± 0.5) mW m −2 ), CS-Zn0.2 ((22.96 ± 0.6) mW m −2 ), and CS-Cu0.2 ((38.72 ± 0.5) mW m −2 ) similar to GP ((30.42 ± 0.5) mW m −2 ). Our outcomes exhibit that the activated coconut shell with CS-Cu0.2 metal electrode gives the maximum power output. Therefore, CS-Cu0.2 electrodes are progressively viable, have greater biocompatibility, effective and adaptable for application in the microbial fuel cell. Among these three proposed electrodes, CS-Cu0.2 electrode has a huge potential for maximum performance and developing a cost-effective sustainable MFC. Highlights: Waste coconut shell materials mixed with various metals and fabricates electrode were used for evaluating MFC performance. New idea was used for fabrication of electrodes (metals added to waste coconut shell). Expensive material performance was compared with that of biochar electrodes. It gives better performance and is more economic. By utilizing waste materials like biochars, environment pollution is reduced.