Performance assessment of partially sulfonated PVdF-co-HFP as polymer electrolyte membranes in single chambered microbial fuel cells. (1st January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kumar, Vikash; Nandy, Arpita; Das, Suparna; Salahuddin, M.; Kundu, Patit P.
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 137(2015:Jan. 01)
• Page Start: 310
• Page End: 321
• Publication Date: 2015-01-01
• Subjects: Sulfonated PVdF-co-HFP membranes -- Membrane electrode assembly -- Microbial fuel cell -- Electro-chemical activity; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.09.073
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: PVdF-co-HFP and its sulfonated derivatives have been analyzed in MFC as PEM. Better performance resulted with 7 h long sulfonated membrane. Impedance analysis revealed lower resistance from 7 h sulfonated membrane than others. Mixed firmicute consortium has shown its electro-activity for bioenergy generation. Abstract: In the present study, PVdF-co-HFP copolymer and its sulfonated derivatives have been analyzed as polymer electrolyte membrane in single chamber MFCs. The sulfonation of PVdF-co-HFP copolymer was performed by treating with chlorosulfonic acid for 5, 7 and 9 h, resulting in 23%, 30%, and 18% of degree of sulfonation (DS) in the respective SP-5, SP-7, and SP-9 membranes. On observing the membranes under field emission scanning electron microscope fitted with EDAX, porosity was found to be increasing with increase in the duration of sulfonation except for 9 h duration. The elemental analysis of the membranes indicated the presence of higher sulfur and oxygen content with the increasing sulfonation duration except for 9 h duration, for which crosslinks were formed via sulfone linkages. The membranes were characterized for their ion exchange capacity (IEC) and proton conductivity; IEC value of 0.21 meq g −1, 0.42 meq g −1, and 0.12 meq g −1 and proton conductivity of 0.0012 S cm −1, 0.00363 S cm −1, and 0.0006 S cm −1 were observed for SP-5, SP-7, and SP-9 membranes. Open air cathode MFCs with membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) containing sulfonated and non-sulfonated PVdF-co-HFP membranes have been analyzed for their overall MFC performance. It was observed that amongst these membranes, MFC with SP-7 membrane showed the maximum power and current density of 290.176 ± 15 mW m −2 and 1390.866 ± 70 mA m −2 with an overall ∼89% COD removal in 28 days operation, using electrogenic mixed firmicute consortium. In overall, the study illustrates the impression of sulfonated PVdF-co-HFP membranes as PEM and its application in MFC for harvesting bio-energy.