University of Kentucky Converts Bourbon Stillage into High-Performance Supercapacitor Materials

Researchers at the University of Kentucky developed a method to transform bourbon distillery byproduct stillage into supercapacitor electrode materials using hydrothermal carbonization. The innovative process yields activated and hard carbon, exhibiting energy densities up to 25 times greater than conventional supercapacitors. This project represents a sustainable solution to waste management while enhancing energy storage technologies.

Published Mar 26, 2026

Researchers from the University of Kentucky have developed a method to convert bourbon distillery waste, stillage, into carbon materials for supercapacitors using hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). This process transforms stillage into activated and hard carbon, suitable for energy storage applications.

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The resulting supercapacitors demonstrated energy densities up to 25 times higher than conventional devices and retained 96% of capacitance after 15,000 cycles. The project, involving collaboration with local distilleries and international partners, aims to commercialize these sustainable energy solutions while addressing waste management challenges.