Most bio-electrochemical systems (BESs) use biotic/abiotic electrode combinations, with platinum-based abiotic electrodes being the most common. However, the non-renewability, cost, and poisonous nature of such electrode systems based on noble metals are major bottlenecks in BES commercialisation. Microbial electrosynthesis (MES), which is a sustainable energy platform that simultaneously treats wastewater and produces chemical commodities, also faces the same problem.
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November 2022
Two-dimensional (2D) TiCT transition metal carbide (MXene) nanosheets intercalated with sodium ions (SI-TiCT MXene) were used in the adsorption and electrochemical regeneration process for removal of the antidiabetic drug metformin (MF) as a model emerging pollutant. After MF adsorption, SI-TiCT MXene oxidized the MF on its surface through its electrocatalytic activity at very low current density and cell potential. For complete oxidation the optimum parameters were 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicrobial electrosynthesis (MES) is a renewable energy platform capable of reducing the carbon footprint by converting carbon dioxide/bicarbonate to useful chemical commodities. However, the development of feasible electrode structures, inefficient current densities, and the production of unfavorable electrosynthesis products remain a major challenge. To this end, a three-dimensional (3D) macroporous sponge coated with a carbon nanotube/MXene composite (CNT-MXene@Sponge) was evaluated as an MES cathode.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Total Environ
June 2021
Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) holds tremendous large scale energy storage potential. By promoting the bioconversion of carbon dioxide (bicarbonate) into useful chemical commodities, this technique utilizes renewable energy and reduces carbon footprint. However, expensive electrode materials, low current densities, and multiple electrosynthesis products are major challenges to this field.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicrobial electrosynthesis (MES) is a potential sustainable biotechnology for the efficient conversion of carbon dioxide/bicarbonate into useful chemical commodities. To date, acetate has been the main MES product; selective electrosynthesis to produce other multi-carbon molecules, which have a higher commercial value, remains a major challenge. In this study, the conventional carbon felt (CF) was modified with inexpensive nickel ferrite (NiFeO@CF) to realize enhanced butyrate production owing to the advantages of improved electrical conductivity, charge transfer efficiency, and microbial-electrode interactions with the selective microbial enrichment.
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February 2021
A highly efficient anode is very crucial for an improved microbial fuel cell (MFC) performance. In this study, a binder-free manganese cobalt oxide (MnCoO@CF) anode was synthesized using a conventional carbon felt (CF) by a facile hydrothermal method. A large electrochemically active and rough electrode surface area of MnCoO@CF anode improved the substrate fluxes and microbial adhesion/growth.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn recent years, the modification of electrode materials for enhancing the power generation of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) has attracted considerable attention. In this study, a conventional carbon felt (CF) electrode was modified by NiFeO (NiFeO@CF), MXene (MXene@CF), and NiFeO-MXene (NiFeO-MXene@CF) using facile dip-and-dry and hydrothermal methods. In these modified CF electrodes, the electrochemical performance considerably improved, while the highest power density (1385 mW/m), which was 5.
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October 2019
Anode potential is a critical factor in the biodegradation of organics in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs), but research on these systems with complex recalcitrant co-substrates at set anode potentials is scarce. In this study, carbamazepine (CBZ) biodegradation in a BES was examined over a wide range of set anode potentials (-200 to +600 mV vs Ag/AgCl). Current generation and current densities were improved with the increase in positive anode potentials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA green approach was adopted to exfoliate a TiAlC MAX phase. The exfoliated nanostructures (Alk-TiC and Alk-TiC) with exceptional mechanical, thermal, and water stabilites, as well as abundant oxygenated active binding sites, were synthesized via a controlled hydrothermal treatment in an alkaline environment. The successful synthesis of nanofibers and sheetlike nanostructures was inferred with scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses.
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