Hydrogen production in two-chamber MEC using a low-cost and biodegradable poly(vinyl) alcohol/chitosan membrane

María Jesús González-Pabón; René Cardeña; Eduardo Cortón; Germán Buitrón

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124168

Hydrogen production in two-chamber MEC using a low-cost and biodegradable poly(vinyl) alcohol/chitosan membrane

Bioresour Technol. 2021 Jan:319:124168. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124168. Epub 2020 Sep 23.

Authors

María Jesús González-Pabón¹, René Cardeña², Eduardo Cortón³, Germán Buitrón⁴

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioanalysis (LABB), Biochemistry Department and IQUIBICEN-CONICET, Science School, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Laboratory for Research on Advanced Processes for Water Treatment, Instituto de Ingeniería, Unidad Académica Juriquilla, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Blvd. Juriquilla 3001, 76230 Santiago de Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico.
² Laboratory for Research on Advanced Processes for Water Treatment, Instituto de Ingeniería, Unidad Académica Juriquilla, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Blvd. Juriquilla 3001, 76230 Santiago de Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico.
³ Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioanalysis (LABB), Biochemistry Department and IQUIBICEN-CONICET, Science School, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
⁴ Laboratory for Research on Advanced Processes for Water Treatment, Instituto de Ingeniería, Unidad Académica Juriquilla, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Blvd. Juriquilla 3001, 76230 Santiago de Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico. Electronic address: GBuitronM@iingen.unam.mx.

PMID: 32992275
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124168

Abstract

Hydrogen production was evaluated in two-chamber microbial electrolysis cells (MEC), where the chambers of the cell were separated using a new economical and environmentally friendly membrane made of poly (vinyl) alcohol/chitosan (PVA/CS). The MEC performance was compared to that of Nafion. The obtained results indicated that the MEC performance for hydrogen production did not show significant differences between the PVA/CS and Nafion membranes. MEC with PVA/CS showed the hydrogen production rate and hydrogen yield of 1277 ± 46 mL H₂L_cat^-1d^-1 and 974 ± 116 mL H₂ g_acetate^-1, respectively. The PVA/CS membrane allowed acetate removal that was 7% higher than that of Nafion due to the lower pH gradient and a lower voltage drop that increased the ion transfer across the membrane.

Keywords: Chitosan; Hydrogen; Membrane; Microbial electrolysis cell; Nafion; Polyvinyl alcohol.

MeSH terms

Chitosan*
Electrolysis
Hydrogen
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Polyvinyl Chloride

Substances

Hydrogen
Polyvinyl Chloride
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Chitosan