Sustainable water capacitive deionization with recycled zinc–carbon battery electrodes

Funding Sponsor

Science and Technology Development Fund

Author's Department

Energy Materials Laboratory

Second Author's Department

Energy Materials Laboratory

Fifth Author's Department

Energy Materials Laboratory

Find in your Library

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2025.118804

All Authors

Mai A. Hassan Manar M. Taha Gehad Hamdy F. A. Taher Nageh K. Allam

Document Type

Research Article

Publication Title

Desalination

Publication Date

7-15-2025

doi

10.1016/j.desal.2025.118804

Abstract

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is emerging as an energy-efficient desalination technology, ideal for treating low-to-medium salinity waters, such as brackish water. Despite its potential, widespread industrial application remains constrained by critical challenges, particularly the cycling stability and regeneration of electrodes. A primary limitation arises from electrode oxidation during repeated adsorption-desorption cycles, leading to significant degradation in long-term performance. Herein, we provide a groundbreaking method to CDI electrode development by repurposing recycled materials from spent zinc–carbon dry cell batteries. The resulting recycled battery paste (RBP)-based electrodes, enriched with multi-doped carbon materials, exhibit exceptional electrochemical performance in single-pass mode, achieving a specific capacitance that translates into a remarkable salt adsorption capacity (SAC) of 46.1 ± 1.7 mg/g. Additionally, the RBP electrodes demonstrate unparalleled stability over 250 continuous charge-discharge cycles, maintaining performance retention exceeding 100 % even under aerated conditions and at an elevated charging voltage of 1.2 V. To evaluate the oxidation resistance of the electrodes, the potential of zero charge (PZC) measurements were conducted before and after extended stability tests. Complementary post-characterization, including electrochemical analyses, PZC assessments, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), provided comprehensive insights into the superior durability and structural resilience of the fabricated electrodes. This study demonstrates the first successful utilization of recycled zinc–carbon battery materials in CDI applications, offering a sustainable and innovative pathway for electrode development. This study not only advances the design of robust CDI electrodes but also underscores the transformative potential of upcycling industrial waste for a high-performance desalination technology.

Link to Full Text
Find this item online

Share

COinS