ABSTRACT
The effect of coconut shell biochar on dye degradation in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) was investigated in the present study. Two different doses of biochar (0.5â¯g and 1â¯g) and one control without bio-char were studied. The highest COD removal efficiency was about 77.7% (0.5â¯g biochar), maximum current (1.07â¯mA) and voltage (722â¯mV) were obtained with 1â¯g biochar. Biofilm optical microscopy characterization revealed the micro colonies intricate plate-like structures. High adsorbent dosage might provide a high surface area for biofilm to generate electricity. BET results of coconut shell biochar showed the maximum surface area of 0.9669â¯m2/g and macroporosity (0.0032â¯cm3/g). The overall results highlighted the possibility of using biochar as an additive in MFC for efficient dye degradation.
Subject(s)
Bioelectric Energy Sources , Charcoal , Biofilms , ElectricityABSTRACT
In the present study, experiments were conducted to investigate the feasibility of using carbon derived from rice husk and coconut shell for the decontamination of water containing Escherichia coli (E. coli). The effects of silver impregnation on these agro-waste carbons were also investigated. All the carbons showed >99% removal of E coli. Among the four carbons studied, rice husk based carbon (RHC) showed better removal than the other carbons investigated. However, silver impregnated carbons showed only marginal increase in the decontamination experiments. SEM and BET results reveal that the carbons were mesoporous in nature. FTIR shows the presence of functional groups viz. C=O and -OH that might be responsible.for adsorption of E. coli on the carbon.