This work studied the performances of two ad hoc biochar-based cathode materials: one obtained from pyrolysis of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OW) and the other of wood chips (WC), in the context of three different bio-electrochemical reactors’ scope: MFC, MEC and MES. Cathodes were characterized through composition, pH, specific surface area and infrared spectroscopy; then production of electricity, methane (CH4), and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from carbon dioxide (CO2) was described, and finally the microbial community was explored through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. WC-based electrodes performed better than OW-based ones. WC (200 ± 25 mV) generated twice the amount of electricity compared to OW (100 ± 10 mV) in MFC modality. In MEC modality, WC achieved both higher CH4 production and concentration (3.6 ± 0.7 mL per day, 73.2 ± 3.9 % v/v, respectively) than OW (3.0 ± 0.3 mL per day, 70 ± 8 % v/v, respectively). In MES modality, WC produced ten times more acetic acid (0.3 ± 0.13 g L−1 per day) than OW (0.03 ± 0.04 g L−1 per day). The better performance of the WC-biochar cathode was attributed to its higher Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) value and its carbonaceous graphite-like structure. NGS analysis highlighted the presence of specific genera of microorganisms leading to the differential functioning of the systems.

The performance of biochar waste-derived electrodes in different bio-electrochemical applications / A. Goglio, A. Carrara, H.G.E. Elboghdady, M. Cucina, E. Clagnan, G. Soggia, P. De Nisi, F. Adani. - In: JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES. - ISSN 0378-7753. - 625:(2025 Jan 01), pp. 235623.1-235623.11. [10.1016/j.jpowsour.2024.235623]

The performance of biochar waste-derived electrodes in different bio-electrochemical applications

A. Goglio
Primo
;
A. Carrara
Secondo
;
H.G.E. Elboghdady;M. Cucina;E. Clagnan;G. Soggia;P. De Nisi
Penultimo
;
F. Adani
Ultimo
2025

Abstract

This work studied the performances of two ad hoc biochar-based cathode materials: one obtained from pyrolysis of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OW) and the other of wood chips (WC), in the context of three different bio-electrochemical reactors’ scope: MFC, MEC and MES. Cathodes were characterized through composition, pH, specific surface area and infrared spectroscopy; then production of electricity, methane (CH4), and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from carbon dioxide (CO2) was described, and finally the microbial community was explored through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. WC-based electrodes performed better than OW-based ones. WC (200 ± 25 mV) generated twice the amount of electricity compared to OW (100 ± 10 mV) in MFC modality. In MEC modality, WC achieved both higher CH4 production and concentration (3.6 ± 0.7 mL per day, 73.2 ± 3.9 % v/v, respectively) than OW (3.0 ± 0.3 mL per day, 70 ± 8 % v/v, respectively). In MES modality, WC produced ten times more acetic acid (0.3 ± 0.13 g L−1 per day) than OW (0.03 ± 0.04 g L−1 per day). The better performance of the WC-biochar cathode was attributed to its higher Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) value and its carbonaceous graphite-like structure. NGS analysis highlighted the presence of specific genera of microorganisms leading to the differential functioning of the systems.
Biochar-based electrode; CO2 electro-recycling; Microbial electrolysis cell; Microbial electrosynthesis; Microbial fuel cell; Organic wastes;
Settore AGRI-06/B - Chimica agraria
Settore AGRI-08/A - Microbiologia agraria, alimentare e ambientale
   Centro Nazionale per le Tecnologie dell'Agricoltura - AGRITECH
   AGRITECH
   MINISTERO DELL'UNIVERSITA' E DELLA RICERCA
1-gen-2025
Article (author)
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
1-s2.0-S0378775324015751-main.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione 3.16 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
3.16 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/1116085
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 0
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 0
social impact