Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell with Multiple Plates of Bamboo Charcoal Anode: Performance Evaluation

In this study, three single-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs), each having Pt-coated carbon cloth as a cathode and four bamboo charcoal (BC) plates as an anode, were run in a fed-batch mode, individually and in series. Simulated potato-processing wastewater was used as a substrate for supporting the growth of a mixed bacterial culture. The maximum power output increased from 0.386 mW with one MFC to 1.047 mW with three MFCs connected in series. The maximum power density, however, decreased from 576 mW/m2 (normalized to the cathode area) with one MFC to 520 mW/m2 with three MFCs in series. The experimental results showed that power can be increased by connecting the MFCs in series; however, choosing low resistance BC is crucial for increasing power density.

Improvement of bearing capacity of clay that is stabilized with bamboo charcoal powder

A building construction must be built on the soil with good bearing capacity. Increasing of bearing capacity of the soil can be done by adding material of soil stabilizer. Bamboo charcoal powder was used in this study as a stabilizer for clay. The percentage of the addition of bamboo charcoal powder to clay soil in this study was 5%, 10%, and 15%. The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test was carried out on original clay and stabilized clay to determine the bearing capacity of the soil. The results of this study as showed an increase in the CBR value of each percentage of the addition of bamboo charcoal powder. The highest CBR value was the addition of 15% bamboo charcoal powder with an increase in the CBR value of the original clay by 82.87%. The increase in the CBR value of the soil indicates that there is an increase in the bearing capacity of the clay due to the addition of bamboo charcoal powder

Surface Modification of Bamboo Charcoal by O2 Plasma Treatment and UV-Grafted Thermo-Sensitive AgNPs Hydrogel to Improve Antibacterial Properties in Biomedical Application

With the advancement of science and modern medical technology, more and more medical materials and implants are used in medical treatment and to improve human life. The safety of invasive medical materials and the prevention of infection are gradually being valued. Therefore, avoiding operation failure or wound infection and inflammation caused by surgical infection is one of the most important topics in current medical technology. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have minor irritation and toxicity to cells and have a broad-spectrum antibacterial effect without causing bacterial resistance and other problems. They are also less toxic to the human body. Bamboo charcoal (BC) is a bioinert material with a porous structure, light characteristics, and low density, like bone quality. It can be used as a lightweight bone filling material. However, it does not have any antibacterial function. This study synthesized AgNPs under the ultraviolet (UV) photochemical method by reducing silver nitrate with sodium citrate. The formation and distribution of AgNPs were confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction measurement (XRD). The BC was treated by O2 plasma to increase the number of polar functional groups on the surface. Then, UV light-induced graft polymerization of N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAm) and AgNPs were applied onto the BC to immobilize thermos-/antibacterial composite hydrogels on the BC surface. The structures and properties of thermos-/antibacterial composite hydrogel-modified BC surface were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared spectrum (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show that thermos-/antibacterial composite hydrogels were then successfully grafted onto BC. SEM observations showed that the thermos-/antibacterial composite hydrogels formed a membrane structure between the BC. The biocompatibility of the substrate was evaluated by Alamar Blue cell viability assay and antibacterial test in vitro.