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

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.

Urine in Bioelectrochemical Systems: An Overall Review

“…The power output by fine fire clay-based MFCs was increased by 64 % only by changing the ceramic properties to higher water absorption, reaching up to 1 mW of power (Figure 4.B). [54] In a similar small-scale MFC made of terracotta, the output was reported to reach 2.19 mW with the use of an iron-based catalyst on the cathode (Figure 4.C). [55] These approaches allow the multiplication of small-scale ceramic units into multimodular stacks increasing efficiency of scaled-up systems.…”

“…Further advances in single chamber MFC fed with urine and possessing ceramic separators have been achieved in the last 2–3 years especially for the improvement of anode and cathode electrode materials incorporated in small‐scale MFC units. The power output by fine fire clay‐based MFCs was increased by 64 % only by changing the ceramic properties to higher water absorption, reaching up to 1 mW of power (Figure .B) . In a similar small‐scale MFC made of terracotta, the output was reported to reach 2.19 mW with the use of an iron‐based catalyst on the cathode (Figure .C) .…”

“…Here power curves were measured over time and peak power decreased significantly . Different air-breathing single chamber MFC set-up fed with human urine for electricity production: A) tetrahedron paper based MFC [45] , b) fine fire clay-based MFC [54] and C) terracotta clay-based MFC [55] . Figure A) adapted from Ref.…”

“…Figure B) adapted from Ref. [54], Elsevier, under licence CC BY 4.0. Figure C) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 from day 1 to day 42.…”

Modification of clayware ceramic membrane for enhancing the performance of microbial fuel cell

“…Study on VC as a cation exchanger in the clayware ceramic membrane is done for the very first time which is theoretically a better cation exchanger than MMT. 22 Many materials such as terracotta, clayware, and ceramics have been used over the years for the preparation of earthen membrane, [23][24][25][26] but when it comes to the modification of earthen membrane, it has been very less talked about. 27 Based on the best of the author's knowledge, a table has been prepared showing different material and modification done in clayware ceramic membrane over the years (Table 1); Based on Table 1, effects of the blend of two cation exchangers for the performance of earthen membrane are not found.…”