Performance of a first-generation, aqueous-alkaline biocarbon fuel cell

FUEL 99

Michael J. Antal Jr., mantal@hawaii.edu, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii at Manoa, POST 109, 1680 East West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, Teppei Nunoura, Environmental Science Center, University of Tokyo, Kashiwanoha 5-1-5, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan, Kiyoshi Dowaki, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan, Chihiro Fushimi, Chemical Research Group, Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth, 9-2 Kizugawadai, Kizu-cho, Soraku-gun, Kyoto, 113-8686, Japan, Stephen G. Allen, Department of Chemistry, Hawai'i Pacific University, 45-045 Kamehameha Highway, Kane'ohe, HI 96744-5297, and Erika Mészáros, Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Chemical Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Pusztaszeri ut 59-67, Budapest 1025, Hungary.
Lignocellulosic residues, which accompany the production of bioethanol and biodiesel fuels, can be efficiently and quickly converted into biocarbons (i.e. charcoal). Carbon fuel cells can generate electricity from these biocarbons with a theoretical thermodynamic efficiency of 100%. This presentation will detail the performance of an aqueous-alkaline carbon fuel cell. Thermochemical equilibrium favors the reduction of oxygen on the cathode of this cell at temperatures below 200 °C. But the kinetics of carbon oxidation by hydroxyl anions on the anode demand temperatures above 200 °C. Nevertheless, operating at 518 K and 35.8 bar with corncob charcoal as its fuel this cell was able to realize an open circuit voltage (OCV) of 0.57 V and a short circuit current density of 43.6 mA/cm2. This OCV is lower than expected; thermodynamics predicts an OCV of about 1 V. This finding motivates the emphasis of higher anode temperatures in our future work.
 

Biofuels: Lignocellulosic Biofuels
1:15 PM-5:10 PM, Monday, August 20, 2007 Boston Park Plaza -- Arlington Rm, Oral

Division of Fuel Chemistry

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007