IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v72y2014icp99-104.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A new future for carbohydrate fuel cells

Author

Listed:
  • Watt, G.D.

Abstract

The development of renewable energy sources to reduce our dependence on limiting fossil fuel reserves continues to be a critical research initiative. Utilizing the abundant high energy content of carbohydrates contained in biomass (cellulose and hemicellulose) must be considered to be an important contribution to our overall energy budget. Carbohydrate-derived furan-based liquid fuels and especially ethanol are becoming important added components forming gasoline blends to lower overall fossil fuel use. Alternate renewable energy processes that more efficiently use the carbohydrate energy content are desirable and would lower the overall carbohydrate input requirement for energy production. Recently, new catalysts have shown the feasibility of efficiently transporting the 24 electrons in glucose to fuel cell electrodes making possible the direct conversion of the stored energy in carbohydrates into electricity with the benign formation of carbonate and water as products. The conversion of glycerol, a byproduct of biodiesel production, into three-carbon carbohydrates provides another opportunity to produce electricity from an abundant carbohydrate source. New developments in catalyst systems promise to make carbohydrate fuel cells an important part of future energy strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Watt, G.D., 2014. "A new future for carbohydrate fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 99-104.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:72:y:2014:i:c:p:99-104
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2014.06.025
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148114003656
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2014.06.025?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Watt, Gerald D., 2014. "Kinetic evaluation of the viologen-catalyzed carbohydrate oxidation reaction for fuel cell application," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 370-375.
    2. Watt, Gerald D. & Hansen, Dane & Dodson, Daniel & Andrus, Merritt & Wheeler, Dean, 2011. "Electrical energy from carbohydrate oxidation during viologen-catalyzed O2-oxidation: Mechanistic insights," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 1523-1528.
    3. Xuan, Jin & Leung, Michael K.H. & Leung, Dennis Y.C. & Ni, Meng, 2009. "A review of biomass-derived fuel processors for fuel cell systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(6-7), pages 1301-1313, August.
    4. Yuriy Román-Leshkov & Christopher J. Barrett & Zhen Y. Liu & James A. Dumesic, 2007. "Production of dimethylfuran for liquid fuels from biomass-derived carbohydrates," Nature, Nature, vol. 447(7147), pages 982-985, June.
    5. Janaun, Jidon & Ellis, Naoko, 2010. "Perspectives on biodiesel as a sustainable fuel," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(4), pages 1312-1320, May.
    6. Read, Adam & Hansen, Dane & Aloi, Sekoti & Pitt, William G. & Wheeler, Dean R. & Watt, Gerald D., 2012. "Monoalkyl viologens are effective carbohydrate O2-oxidation catalysts for electrical energy generation by fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 218-223.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yang, Chun & Cao, Wei-Qin & Ji, Xiao-Feng & Wang, Jian & Zhong, Tao-Lin & Wang, Yu & Zhang, Qing, 2020. "In situ fuel phosphorylation facilitates the complete oxidation of glycerol in direct biomass cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 699-704.
    2. Bahari, Meisam & Malmberg, Michael A. & Brown, Daniel M. & Hadi Nazari, S. & Lewis, Randy S. & Watt, Gerald D. & Harb, John N., 2020. "Oxidation efficiency of glucose using viologen mediators for glucose fuel cell applications with non-precious anodes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    3. Irfan, Muhammad & Liu, Xianhua & Li, Shengling & Khan, Izhar Ullah & Li, Yang & Wang, Jiao & Wang, Xin & Du, Xiwen & Wang, Guangyi & Zhang, Pingping, 2020. "High-performance glucose fuel cell with bimetallic Ni–Co composite anchored on reduced graphene oxide as anode catalyst," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 1118-1126.
    4. Cardoso, João & Silva, Valter & Eusébio, Daniela & Brito, Paulo & Boloy, Ronney Mancebo & Tarelho, Luís & Silveira, José Luz, 2019. "Comparative 2D and 3D analysis on the hydrodynamics behaviour during biomass gasification in a pilot-scale fluidized bed reactor," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 713-729.
    5. Herranz, D. & Escudero-Cid, R. & Montiel, M. & Palacio, C. & Fatás, E. & Ocón, P., 2018. "Poly (vinyl alcohol) and poly (benzimidazole) blend membranes for high performance alkaline direct ethanol fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 883-895.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bahari, Meisam & Malmberg, Michael A. & Brown, Daniel M. & Hadi Nazari, S. & Lewis, Randy S. & Watt, Gerald D. & Harb, John N., 2020. "Oxidation efficiency of glucose using viologen mediators for glucose fuel cell applications with non-precious anodes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    2. Watt, Gerald D., 2014. "Kinetic evaluation of the viologen-catalyzed carbohydrate oxidation reaction for fuel cell application," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 370-375.
    3. Keramiotis, Ch. & Vourliotakis, G. & Skevis, G. & Founti, M.A. & Esarte, C. & Sánchez, N.E. & Millera, A. & Bilbao, R. & Alzueta, M.U., 2012. "Experimental and computational study of methane mixtures pyrolysis in a flow reactor under atmospheric pressure," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 103-110.
    4. Bergthorson, Jeffrey M. & Thomson, Murray J., 2015. "A review of the combustion and emissions properties of advanced transportation biofuels and their impact on existing and future engines," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 1393-1417.
    5. Xu, Yang-Jie & Li, Guo-Xiu & Sun, Zuo-Yu, 2016. "Development of biodiesel industry in China: Upon the terms of production and consumption," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 318-330.
    6. Nguyen, Long Thanh & Doan, Vinh Thanh Chau & Nguyen, Trinh Hao & Phan, Ha Bich & Pham, Viet Van & Dang, Chinh Van & Tran, Phuong Hoang, 2024. "One-pot aerobic conversion of fructose to 2,5-diformylfuran using silver-decorated carbon materials," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    7. Pandey, Vimal Chandra & Singh, Kripal & Singh, Jay Shankar & Kumar, Akhilesh & Singh, Bajrang & Singh, Rana P., 2012. "Jatropha curcas: A potential biofuel plant for sustainable environmental development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 2870-2883.
    8. Silitonga, A.S. & Atabani, A.E. & Mahlia, T.M.I. & Masjuki, H.H. & Badruddin, Irfan Anjum & Mekhilef, S., 2011. "A review on prospect of Jatropha curcas for biodiesel in Indonesia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(8), pages 3733-3756.
    9. Moharana, Manoj Kumar & Peela, Nageswara Rao & Khandekar, Sameer & Kunzru, Deepak, 2011. "Distributed hydrogen production from ethanol in a microfuel processor: Issues and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 524-533, January.
    10. Andres Quintero, Julian & Ruth Felix, Erika & Eduardo Rincón, Luis & Crisspín, Marianella & Fernandez Baca, Jaime & Khwaja, Yasmeen & Cardona, Carlos Ariel, 2012. "Social and techno-economical analysis of biodiesel production in Peru," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 427-435.
    11. Karabas, Hülya, 2013. "Biodiesel production from crude acorn (Quercus frainetto L.) kernel oil: An optimisation process using the Taguchi method," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 384-388.
    12. Azad, A.K. & Rasul, M.G. & Khan, M.M.K. & Sharma, Subhash C. & Mofijur, M. & Bhuiya, M.M.K., 2016. "Prospects, feedstocks and challenges of biodiesel production from beauty leaf oil and castor oil: A nonedible oil sources in Australia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 302-318.
    13. Mazen A. Eldeeb & Benjamin Akih-Kumgeh, 2018. "Recent Trends in the Production, Combustion and Modeling of Furan-Based Fuels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-47, February.
    14. Chen, Guisheng & Shen, Yinggang & Zhang, Quanchang & Yao, Mingfa & Zheng, Zunqing & Liu, Haifeng, 2013. "Experimental study on combustion and emission characteristics of a diesel engine fueled with 2,5-dimethylfuran–diesel, n-butanol–diesel and gasoline–diesel blends," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 333-342.
    15. Bhuiya, M.M.K. & Rasul, M.G. & Khan, M.M.K. & Ashwath, N. & Azad, A.K., 2016. "Prospects of 2nd generation biodiesel as a sustainable fuel—Part: 1 selection of feedstocks, oil extraction techniques and conversion technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 1109-1128.
    16. Gan, Peck Yean & Li, Zhi Dong, 2014. "Econometric study on Malaysia׳s palm oil position in the world market to 2035," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 740-747.
    17. Berhanu, Mesfin & Jabasingh, S. Anuradha & Kifile, Zebene, 2017. "Expanding sustenance in Ethiopia based on renewable energy resources – A comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 1035-1045.
    18. Daniel, Ritchie & Xu, Hongming & Wang, Chongming & Richardson, Dave & Shuai, Shijin, 2013. "Gaseous and particulate matter emissions of biofuel blends in dual-injection compared to direct-injection and port injection," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 252-261.
    19. Ozturk, Munir & Saba, Naheed & Altay, Volkan & Iqbal, Rizwan & Hakeem, Khalid Rehman & Jawaid, Mohammad & Ibrahim, Faridah Hanum, 2017. "Biomass and bioenergy: An overview of the development potential in Turkey and Malaysia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1285-1302.
    20. Zhou, Feng & Wang, Jigang & Zhou, Xincong & Qiao, Xinqi & Wen, Xiaofei, 2021. "Effect of 2, 5-dimethylfuran concentration on micro-explosive combustion characteristics of biodiesel droplet," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:72:y:2014:i:c:p:99-104. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.