An Evaluation of the Performance and Economics of Membranes and Separators in Single Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells Treating Domestic Wastewater

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136108
• Publication Date: 2015-08-25T13:59:37Z
• Authors: Beate Christgen; Keith Scott; Jan Dolfing; Ian M. Head; Thomas P. Curtis
• Keywords: Single chamber

The cost of materials is one the biggest barriers for wastewater driven microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Many studies use expensive with idealistic wastes. Realistically choice an ion selective membrane or nonspecific separators must be made in context and performance available. Fourteen membranes were characterized durability, oxygen diffusion ionic resistance to enable informed selection reactor tests. Subsequently MFCs operated a efficient design using Nafion, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes, separator (Rhinohide), no-membrane carbon-paper internal gas cathode. Peak power densities during polarisation, from no-membrane, Nafion ETFE, reached 67, 61 59 mWm-2, coulombic efficiencies 68±11%, 71±12% 92±6%, respectively. Under 1000Ω, ETFE achieved average density 29 mWm-2 compared 24 membrane-less reactors. Over hypothetical lifetime 10 years generated energy (1 2.5 kWhm-2) would not sufficient offset costs any tested.