Penicillin fermentation residue biochar as a high-performance electrode for membrane capacitive deionization

Membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) is an efficient desalination technology for brine. Penicillin fermentation residue biochar (PFRB) possesses a hierarchical porous and O/N-doped structure which could serve as a high-capacity desalination electrode in the MCDI system. Under optimal conditions (electrode weight, voltage, and concentration) and a carbonization temperature of 700 degrees C, the maximum salt adsorption capacity of the electrode can reach 26.4 mg/g, which is higher than that of most carbon electrodes. Furthermore, the electrochemical properties of the PFRB electrode were characterized through cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) with a maximum specific capacitance of 212.18 F/g. Finally, biotoxicity tests have showed that PFRB was non-biotoxin against luminescent bacteria and the MCDI system with the PFRB electrode remained stable even after 27 adsorption-desorption cycles. This study provides a novel way to recycle penicillin residue and an electrode that can achieve excellent desalination. (C) Higher Education Press 2023