Microcellular Electrode Material for Microbial Bioelectrochemical Systems Synthesized by Hydrothermal Carbonization of Biomass derived precursors

VICTORIA FLEXER; DONOSE, B.C.; LEFEBVRE, C.; POZO, G.; BOONE, M. N.; VAN HOOREBEKE, L.; BACCOUR, M.; BONNET, L.; CALAS-ETIENNE, S.; GALARNEAU, A.; TITIRICI, M.; BRUN, N.

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering

American Chemical Society

Año: 2016 vol. 4 p. 2508 - 2516

A new monolithic carbonaceous material, 750-HMF- CarboHIPE, is presented here. The new electrode has been tested as an anode material inside a microbial bioelectrochemical system. In a purposely designed continuous flow bioelectrochemical reactor, the new material showed high biocompatibility, with a continuous biofilm development that remained bioelectrochemically active for over 6 months. A catalytic current of 1.56 mA cm /7.8 mA cm (normalization by projected surface area and volumetric current) was reached. The current density was proportional to the flow rate. The new electrode material was synthesized using a high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) as a soft template to confine the polymer- ization and hydrothermal carbonization of two precursors derived from the cellulosic fraction of biomass and the bark of fruit trees: 5- hydroxymethylfurfural and phloroglucinol, respectively. Altogether, the sustainable synthetic route from biomass materials and the proposed application of oxidizing organic matter present in wastewater to produce electricity in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) close an interesting loop of prospective sustainable technology