Evaluation and ranking of polymeric ion exchange membranes used in microbial electrolysis cells for biohydrogen production

René Cardeña; László Koók; Jan Žitka; Péter Bakonyi; Barbora Galajdová; Miroslav Otmar; Nándor Nemestóthy; Germán Buitrón

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124182

Evaluation and ranking of polymeric ion exchange membranes used in microbial electrolysis cells for biohydrogen production

Bioresour Technol. 2021 Jan:319:124182. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124182. Epub 2020 Sep 29.

Authors

René Cardeña¹, László Koók², Jan Žitka³, Péter Bakonyi², Barbora Galajdová³, Miroslav Otmar³, Nándor Nemestóthy², Germán Buitrón⁴

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory for Research on Advanced Processes for Water Treatment, Instituto de Ingeniería, Unidad Académica Juriquilla, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Blvd. Juriquilla 3001, 76230 Querétaro, Mexico.
² Research Group on Bioengineering, Membrane Technology and Energetics, University of Pannonia, Egyetem ut 10, 8200 Veszprém, Hungary.
³ Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, AS CR, Heyrovsky Sq. 2, 162 06 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
⁴ Laboratory for Research on Advanced Processes for Water Treatment, Instituto de Ingeniería, Unidad Académica Juriquilla, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Blvd. Juriquilla 3001, 76230 Querétaro, Mexico. Electronic address: gbuitronm@iingen.unam.mx.

PMID: 33038653
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124182

Abstract

This work characterizes and comparatively assess two cation exchange membranes (PSEBS SU22 and CF22 R14) and one bipolar membrane (FBM) in microbial electrolysis cells (MEC), fed either by acetate or the mixture of volatile fatty acids as substrates. The PSEBS SU22 is a new, patent-pending material, while the CF22 R14 and FBM are developmental and commercialized products. Based on the various MEC performance measures, membranes were ranked by the EXPROM-2 method to reveal which of the polymeric membranes could be more beneficial from a complex, H₂ production efficiency viewpoint. It turned out that the substrate-type influenced the application potential of the membranes. Still, in total, the PSEBS SU22 was found competitive with the other alternative materials. The evaluation of MEC was also supported by analyzing anodic biofilms following electroactive bacteria's development over time.

Keywords: Biohydrogen; Internal losses; Ion exchange membrane; Microbial community analysis; Microbial electrolysis cell; Volatile fatty acids.

MeSH terms

Bioelectric Energy Sources*
Electrodes
Electrolysis
Fatty Acids, Volatile
Hydrogen
Ion Exchange

Substances

Fatty Acids, Volatile
Hydrogen