University of Kentucky researchers turn whisky stillage into supercapacitors components
In Kentucky, University of Kentucky researchers have developed a way to transform whisky production waste into high-performance components for supercapacitors. This solution repurposes an industrial byproduct in a way that could eventually help stabilize the electrical grid.
By using a technique called hydrothermal carbonization, which functions like a high-intensity pressure cooker, they convert stillage into a black carbonaceous material called hydrochar.
The process involves heating the powder in a furnace to create two distinct types of carbon electrodes:
· Hard carbon — produced at 1832 degrees Fahrenheit, this material is ideal for absorbing lithium ions to boost energy storage.
· Activated carbon — created at 1,472 degrees Fahrenheit, this highly porous material can store massive amounts of charge.
“It was a huge discovery for me that you can make hybrid devices from this waste,” Barrios Cossio said. “Hybrid devices are not common. Not common and not easy to make.”
In performance tests, the team’s hybrid lithium-ion supercapacitors stored up to 25 times more energy per kilogram than conventional versions. Furthermore, their double-layer capacitors showed remarkable durability, retaining 96% of their capacity even after 15,000 cycles. The team collaborated with local distilleries across the region and partnered with researchers at Friedrich Schiller University Jena in Germany to develop the prototype.
Category: Research
