Development of a tubular microbial fuel cell (MFC) employing a membrane electrode assembly cathode

作者：Kim Jung Rae; Premier Giuliano C^*; Hawkes Freda R; Dinsdale Richard M; Guwy Alan J

来源：Journal of Power Sources, 2009, 187(2): 393-399.

DOI：10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.11.020

• Microbial fuel cell
• Membrane electrode assembly
• Tubular
• Impedance Spectroscopy
• Ion exchange membrane
• Electro-osmotic drag

Tubular microbial fuel cells (MFC) with air cathode might be amenable to scale-up but with increasing volume a mechanically robust, cost-effective cathode structure is required. Membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) are investigated in a tubular MFC using cost-effective cation (CEM) or anion (AEM) exchange membrane. The MEA fabrication mechanically combines a cathode electrode with the membrane between a perforated cylindrical polypropylene shell and tube. Hydrogel application between membrane and cathode increases cathode potential by similar to 100mV over a 0-5.5 mA range in a CEM-MEA. Consequently, 6.1 W m(-3) based on reactor liquid volume (200 cm(3)) are generated compared with 5 W m(-3) without hydrogel. Cathode potential is also improved in AEM-MEA using hydrogel. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to compare MEA's performance suggests reduced impedance and enhanced membrane-cathode contact area when using hydrogel. The maximum coulombic efficiency observed with CEM-MEA is 71% and 63% with AEM-MEA. Water loss through the membrane varies with external load resistance, indicating that total charge transfer in the MFC is related to electro-osmotic drag of water through the membrane. The MEA developed here has been shown to be mechanically robust, operating for more than six month at this scale without problem.

• 出版日期2009-2-15