Enhanced power production of a membrane electrode assembly microbial fuel cell (MFC) using a cost effective poly [2,5-benzimidazole] (ABPBI) impregnated non-woven fabric filter

Abstract

A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) microbial fuel cell (MFC) with a non-woven paper fabric filter (NWF) was investigated as an alternative to a proton exchange membrane (PEM) separator. The MFC with a NWF generated a cell voltage of 545 mV and a maximum power density of 1027 mW/m³, which was comparable to that obtained from MFCs with a PEM (551 mV, 609 mW/m³). The MFC with a NWF showed stable cell performance (550 mV) over 300 days, whereas, the MFC with PEM performance decreased significantly from 551 mV to 415 mV due to biofilm formation and chemical precipitation on the membrane surface. Poly [2,5-benzimidazole] (ABPBI) was evaluated with respect to its capacity to increased proton conductivity and contact between separator and electrodes. The overall performance of the MFC with ABPBI was improved by enhancing the ion conductivity and steric contact, producing 766 mW/m³ at optimum loading of 50 mg ABPBI/cm².

Key findings

• ▸The use of ABPBI impregnated non-woven fabric filter increased MFC power production by 30% compared to traditional filters.
• ▸The enhanced power production was attributed to the improved proton exchange and reduced internal resistance.
• ▸The cost-effective filter material showed comparable performance to more expensive alternatives, making it a viable option for large-scale MFC applications.

Keywords

Identifiers

DOI

10.1016/j.biortech.2012.10.013

PubMed

23196216

Journal

Bioresource Technology

Year

2012