Microbial electrolysis using aqueous fractions derived from Tail-Gas Recycle Pyrolysis of willow and guayule

Journal Article · Thu Nov 29 00:00:00 EST 2018 · Bioresource Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.11.099· OSTI ID:1501676

Satinover, Scott J. ^[1]; Elkasabi, Yaseen ^[2]; Nuñez, Alberto ^[2]; Rodriguez, Miguel ^[3]; Borole, Abhijeet P. ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
2. USDA ARS, ERRC, Wyndmoor, PA (United States)
3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Here, this study investigated microbial electrolysis of two aqueous phase waste products derived from guayule and willow generated from Tail Gas Recycle Pyrolysis (TGRP). The highest average current density achieved was 5.0 ± 0.7 A/m² and 1.8 ± 0.2 A/m² for willow and guayule respectively. Average hydrogen productivity was 5.0 ± 1.0 L/L-day from willow and 1.5 ± 0.2 L/L-day for guayule. Willow also generated higher coulombic efficiency, anode conversion efficiency, and hydrogen recovery than guayule at most organic loading conditions. Compounds investigated exceeded 80% degradation, which included organic acids, sugar derivatives, and phenolics. Mass spectrometric analysis demonstrated the accumulation of a long chain amine not present in either substrate before treatment, and the persistence of several peptide residues resulting from the TGRP process. Lastly, new biorefineries may one day capitalize on this otherwise discarded byproduct of TGRP, further improving the potential applications and value of microbial electrolysis towards energy production.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1501676
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1636713
• Journal Information: Bioresource Technology, Vol. 274; ISSN 0960-8524
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Biomass energy
Pyrolysis aqueous phase
Bioelectrochemical hydrogen production
Organic conversion
Renewable energy