탄화수소계열 고분자 전해질막 기반 미생물 연료전지

Abstract

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising renewable energy source that can generate electrical energy from organic wastes using microbe. This technology has been regarded as a future green alternative energy in that MFC makes use of organic-rich wastewater and also reduces waste sludge as well as produces electricity at the same time. For practical application, however, higher power density than now is demanded which may be achieved by reducing various negative factors to act as ohmic and mass transfer resistances in MFC operations. For instance, highly activated microbes, highly conductive electrode materials and fast electron transfer between microbes and electrodes are necessary for high power density. In particular, polymer electrolyte membranes are also a key element for improving MFC performance. Generally two-chambered MFCs use Nafion as a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM). However, Nafion membrane is expensive and accounts for large part of the capital costs of MFC installation. Furthermore it has many disadvantages including biofouling, substrate loss and other ions transport except protons. Therefore, new PEM materials are needed for practical implementation of MFCs. In this study, we employed hydrocarbon based PEM, disulfonated poly (arylene ether sulfone) (BPSH), known as one of high-performance PEM. BPSH membranes were synthesized in the different composition by the degree of sulfonation. We evaluated the physical properties of each membrane such as ion exchange capacity, proton conductivity, water uptake and elongation, by comparing with Nafion membrane. We also observed electrochemical properties of MFCs installed with different PEMs. In terms of voltage and current change via time, I-V curve and cyclic voltammetry, we will discuss the influence of the different sulfonation on swelling and proton conductivity of PEM, and the effect of the MFC performance.