Performance of microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) for hydrogen production operated with a low cost chitosan-based membrane

GONZALEZ PABON MARIA JESUS; CORTÓN, EDUARDO; CARDEÑA RENE; BUITRON GERMAN; A. MARTÍNEZ

Querétaro

Conferencia; First Latin America and Caribbean Young Water Professionals Conference; 2018

Instituto de Ingenieria UNAM

Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) are well-known bio-electrochemical systems (BESs) which require a small external supply of electricity, which together with the metabolic microbial activity (and the degradation of organic substrates) can produce hydrogen gas [1-3]. MECs are usually constructed by means of very expensive materials (electrodes and separation membranes), that represent the main bottleneck for industrial use in real world conditions. Electrodes are needed for the oxidation-reduction reactions and membranes to improve the purity of the hydrogen and to prevent microbial consumption of the hydrogen [4]. In this work we present or results by using a PVA/CS low cost membrane synthesize by polyvinyl alcohol and chitosan as raw materials, and was compared with Nafion membrane during MECs reactor operations. Similar hydrogen production was obtained with Nafion and PVA/CS membranes of 1.21 ± 0.06 and 1.23 ± 0.07 m3 H2/m3 /d, respectively. Nonetheless removal percentage (substrate consumption) was 18% higher when PVA/CS membrane was employed. This could be explained due to minor changes in anolythe pH when PVA/CS were used wich can benefit microorganisms grown. Also, porous and structure of PVA/CS membrane could allows ion transport (OH-, Cl-) among chambers. OH-  ion transport could avoid increases in catholyte pH and Cl- transport could prevent fouling in the cathodic compartment. Furthermore PVA/CS membrane is 98% less expensive than Nafion.  [1] Cercado, B., Cházaro-Ruiz, L.F., Trejo-Córdova,G., Buitrón, G., Razo-Flores, E. J. Appl. Electrochem. 2016;46, 217-227.[2] Li Z, Fu Q, Kobayashi H, Xiao S. Biofuel Production from Bioelectrochemical Systems. In: Liao Q, Chang J, HerrmannC, XiaA. (Eds) Bioreactors for Microbial Biomass and Energy Conversion. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Singapore 2018. [3] Kadier, A., Simayi, Y., Abdeshahian, P., Azman,N.F., Chandrasekhar, K., Kalil, M.S., 2016. Alexandria Eng. J. 2016;55, 427-443.[4] Jiang Y, Yang X, Liang P, Liu P, Huang X. Renew.Sustain. Energy Rev 2018;81: 292-305. [4] Abrevaya XC, SaccoNJ, Bonetto MC, Hilding-Ohlsson A, Cortón E. Biosens Bioelectron 2015;63: 580-590.