Effect of the ceramic membrane properties on the microbial fuel cell power output and catholyte generation

Irene Merino-Jimenez; Fernando Gonzalez-Juarez; John Greenman; Ioannis Ieropoulos

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2019.04.043

Effect of the ceramic membrane properties on the microbial fuel cell power output and catholyte generation

J Power Sources. 2019 Jul 31:429:30-37. doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2019.04.043.

Authors

Irene Merino-Jimenez¹, Fernando Gonzalez-Juarez², John Greenman^{1

3}, Ioannis Ieropoulos^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, University of the West of England, BS16 1QY, UK.
² Research and Development Ceramics, ROCA Sanitario, S.A., Av. de La Generalitat, 231, 08840, Barcelona, Spain.
³ Biological, Biomedical and Analytical Sciences, University of the West of England, BS16 1QY, UK.

Abstract

Ceramic membranes for MFCs offer a low cost alternative to the expensive ion exchange membranes, whilst promoting catholyte accumulation. However, their physicochemical properties need to be optimised, in order to increase the power output and the catholyte quality from MFCs. Two compositions of fine fire clay (FFC) cured under three firing cycles were manufactured, analysed and tested as ion-exchange and structural material for MFCs. The samples were characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The power and catholyte generated from the ceramic MFCs with different FFC types was also evaluated. The results show a direct correlation between the ohmic resistance, the MFC power generation and the water absorption of the ceramics, giving a maximum power of 1 mW from the MFC with the most absorptive FFC (16.37% water absorbance). A slightly more alkaline catholyte was synthesised from the MFCs with higher water absorption FFC.

Keywords: Catholyte production; Ceramic membrane; Electroosmotic drag; Microbial fuel cell (MFC); Urine.