Development of carbon free diffusion layer for activated carbon air cathode of microbial fuel cells

Bioresource Technology
Wulin YangBruce E Logan

Abstract

The fabrication of activated carbon air cathodes for larger-scale microbial fuel cells requires a diffusion layer (DL) that is highly resistant to water leakage, oxygen permeable, and made using inexpensive materials. A hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane synthesized using a simple phase inversion process was examined as a low cost ($0.9/m(2)), carbon-free DL that prevented water leakage at high pressure heads compared to a polytetrafluoroethylene/carbon black DL ($11/m(2)). The power density produced with a PVDF (20%, w/v) DL membrane of 1400±7mW/m(2) was similar to that obtained using a wipe DL [cloth coated with poly(dimethylsiloxane)]. Water head tolerance reached 1.9m (∼19kPa) with no mesh supporter, and 2.1m (∼21kPa, maximum testing pressure) with a mesh supporter, compared to 0.2±0.05m for the wipe DL. The elimination of carbon black from the DL greatly simplified the fabrication procedure and further reduced overall cathode costs.

References

Jan 19, 2002·Science·Daniel R BondDerek R Lovley
Jun 2, 2007·Environmental Science & Technology·Bruce LoganGarett Estadt
Jul 1, 2008·Trends in Biotechnology·René A RozendalCees J N Buisman
Jul 16, 2008·Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology·Liping Huang, Bruce E Logan
Jan 29, 2011·Bioresource Technology·Shaoan Cheng, Bruce E Logan

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Citations

Dec 29, 2016·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Sandesh Y SawantMoo Hwan Cho
Sep 28, 2018·Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology·Abhilasha S MathuriyaMakarand M Ghangrekar
Oct 22, 2018·Water Research·Ruggero RossiBruce E Logan
Aug 8, 2020·The Science of the Total Environment·Yi LiXuhui Mao

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