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Monday, 05 July 2010

Hi,

I'm a student, very new in this field and I need some clarification.
From the literature that I have read:
(i) it states that single chambered MFC produces higher power density than a dual-chambered MFC. However, there are still lots of study/research conducted using a dual-chambered MFC. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type of design?

(ii) most of the studies used PEM Nafion 117 type of membrane. Why is it so?

Thank you.

» 2 Comments
2Comment
at Tuesday, 06 July 2010 16:21by Jan Schouppe
In single chambered MFC’s the membrane (and concomitant ohmic resistance) is omitted. In some cases this enables higher power output. However, if electron donors and acceptors are present in the some compartment, direct oxidation and reduction are not excluded.
1Comment
at Tuesday, 06 July 2010 16:21by Jan Schouppe
Whatever setup is used, the anode and cathode compartment should always be separated electronically. Using a dual chamber setup, this is done by a proton exchange membrane (PEM)? In this context an ideal PEM (1) lets protons transfer from the anode to the cathode, (2) inhibits diffusion of the electron donating substrate (mostly an organic carbon source) from anode to the cathode and (3) hinders diffusion of the final electron acceptor (mostly O2 in a normal cathode) from the cathode to the anode. 
Non of the existing membranes perfectly meet the above mentioned needs. Some membranes are selective for cations in general (cation exchange membrane, CEM such as Ultrex CMI7000). Then larger pH gradients can arise because of the transfer of small cations (Na+, K+) instead of protons (H+). In general PEM have smaller ohmic resistance then CEM.
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