University of Kentucky chemists have developed a method to convert bourbon distillation waste (stillage) into electrodes for supercapacitors, achieving energy storage capacity comparable to commercial devices. This innovation addresses the significant waste problem in the bourbon industry, where 6-10 barrels of stillage are produced for every barrel of bourbon. The research was presented at an American Chemical Society meeting, offering a sustainable solution for both waste management and energy storage technology.
Background
Bourbon production generates massive amounts of stillage waste (watery used mash), typically 6-10 times the volume of the final bourbon product. This waste is currently used as livestock feed or soil additives but requires expensive drying processes. Supercapacitors are energy storage devices that bridge the gap between batteries and conventional capacitors.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Mar 25, 2026 at 05:00 PM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10