| Title |
Sugarcane Biowaste-Derived Biochars as Capacitive Deionization Electrodes for Brackish Water Desalination and Water-Softening Applications |
| ID_Doc |
12462 |
| Authors |
Lado, JJ; Zornitta, RL; Rodríguez, IV; Barcelos, KM; Ruotolo, LAM |
| Title |
Sugarcane Biowaste-Derived Biochars as Capacitive Deionization Electrodes for Brackish Water Desalination and Water-Softening Applications |
| Year |
2019 |
| Published |
Acs Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 7.0, 23 |
| DOI |
10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b04504 |
| Abstract |
The sugarcane ethanol industry is currently generating an intensive amount of biowaste while consuming significant water resources. In this work, sugarcane bagasse fly ash (SCBFA), a major biowaste with high amounts of fixed carbon, is employed as a precursor for activated carbon (SCBFA-AC) production. Here, SCBFA-ACs are valorized as the main component of carbon electrodes employed in capacitive deionization (CDI), an emerging desalination technology. In this way, an abundant and low-cost biowaste could be used as a green alternative to treat the water. Different activation methods of SCBFA were explored obtaining SCBFA-AC with a broad spectrum of structural and chemical properties. The electrochemical characterization of SCBFA-AC showed the positive impact of large surface areas, good combination of micro- and mesopores, and the presence of surface functional groups on specific capacitances (117 F g(-1)). Subsequently, CDI and membrane CDI experiments showed the importance of ion-exchange membranes on improving charge efficiency values (from 5-30 to 80-95%) and consequently, salt adsorption capacity, SAC, from approximate to 5 to 22 mg g(-1). This SAC value, one of the highest ever obtained with biowaste electrodes, only suffered a slight reduction (19 mg g(-1)) after 70 CDI cycles. Finally, SCBFA electrodes were successfully tested for water-softening applications, reaching 15 mg g(-1) when operating using CaCl2 solutions instead of NaCl. This study represents a great example of the water-energy-food nexus in the framework of the circular economy. |
| Author Keywords |
sugarcane bagasse fly ash; capacitive deionization; pyrolysis; KOH activation; biowaste valorization |
| Index Keywords |
Index Keywords |
| Document Type |
Other |
| Open Access |
Open Access |
| Source |
Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED) |
| EID |
WOS:000500650400027 |
| WoS Category |
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; Green & Sustainable Science & Technology; Engineering, Chemical |
| Research Area |
Chemistry; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Engineering |
| PDF |
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