Obtención de biocarbón y biol a partir de bagazo de caña de azúcar para su uso potencial en celdas de combustible microbianas

Abstract

This research aimed to obtain biochar and biol from Sugarcane Bagasse (BCA) for its potential use in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). A pyrolysis and fermentation process was generated to obtain electrodes and fuel, respectively, and subsequently implement the bioproducts to evaluate their performance in bioelectricity production and organic load removal. The pyrolysis was carried out in a reactor that, once the micro and nanomaterial were obtained, was impregnated in carbon fibre to be used as Proton Exchange Membrane (IPM) in the MFCs that had as substrates, leached from fruits and vegetables and biol obtained from the anaerobic digestion of BCA processed by hand. On the other hand, they were inoculated with Delftia acidovorans and Citrobacter freundii, and they assembled the cells configured simply with the exposed cathode from which the generated voltage was monitored for 15 days. Physicochemical and bromatological analyzes were carried out on the substrates before and at the end to calculate the rates of removal of contaminants. For the analysis of biofilm formation, the membranes were visualized by advanced microscopy. Four cells composed of leachate and four with biol were obtained with two different combinations of IPM, with a removal rate of biochemical and chemical oxygen demand (BOD and COD) and ammoniacal nitrogen and bioelectricity generation. The statistical analysis and results of the characterization of the substrates and IPM showed that the cells composed of carbon fibre impregnated with biochar generated the highest voltage, and the cells composed of leachate and pure carbon fibres had the highest rate of contaminant removal. It is recommended to conduct studies on using micro and nanomaterials in bioelectricity and the recovery of elements.