Effects of biofouling on ion transport through cation exchange membranes and microbial fuel cell performance

Minimum interspatial electrode spacing to optimize air-cathode microbial fuel cell operation with a membrane electrode assembly

“…The calculated specific proton conductivity observed in this study was higher than those of other studies (0.015 S/cm) using Nafion as a membrane [13]. These differences in S H could be due to variations in reactor configurations and ohmic resistances or due to variation in the distance from anode to cathode.…”

“…The specific proton conductivity (S H , S/cm) was determined using ohmic resistance (R oh ,Ω), thickness of the membrane (L m , μm), and working surface area (A, cm 2 ) in the following equation [13,19] Eq. (3)…”

“…Eventually, the overall internal resistance of the MFC also increases [11]. In order to overcome these adverse effects on MFC performance, the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) needs to be designed with an optimal distance between the electrodes, advanced separator material, or adequate electrode thickness [3,4,8,12,13]. …”

Fouling resistant nitrogen doped carbon powder with amino-tri-methylene-phosphate cathode for microbial fuel cell

“…Fouling is the formation of an impenetrable film on reactive surface due to accumulation of bacteria, biofoulants and cations, resulting in increased internal resistance of the MFCs (Table 2). Similar increase in internal resistance was observed by Choi, Chae [11] and they attributed this increase in resistance to high concentration of cation deposition on membranes. ATMP being a commercial antiscaling agent has inherent chelation properties to stop this deposition of chemicals by keeping the ions in solution form; thus cathode performance in the MFCs using ATMP in cathode did not decline notably with time.…”

“…A thick layer of carbonate forms as a consequence of the alkalinity, induced by the ORR on cathodes operated for long time in MFCs, which deactivates the cathodic reaction sites of the MFC [9,10]. Although some attempts have been made to remove biofouling [7], but researchers such as Choi, Chae [11] observed that biofouling has less influence on deterioration of performance of MFC. Very few studies have focused on inorganic scale formation on cathode surface and its removal.…”