Abstract

This work investigates the performance of a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) for Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) treatment using bare and hydrochar-doped carbon felt (CF) anodes. Hydrochar was synthesized through hydrothermal carbonization of Spergularia rubra, followed by activation at 500 °C, resulting in improved O/C and H/C ratios of 0.26 and 0.78, respectively. The study reveals that doping CF anodes with non-activated and activated hydrochar significantly enhances copper recovery and electricity generation. The highest copper recovery rate of 16.0 mg/L h?1 was achieved with activated hydrochar-doped CF (CFaH) anodes, followed by 10.6 mg/L h?1 with non-activated hydrochar-doped CF (CFnaH) anodes, and 7.1 mg/L h?1 with bare CF anodes. Hydrochar doping also improved the maximum current density to 0.21 mA cm?2 compared to 0.16 mA cm?2 with bare CF anodes. These results demonstrate the potential of hydrochar-doped CF anodes for efficient metal and energy recovery from AMD, offering a sustainable and energy-efficient alternative to conventional methods. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.