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A review on the role of proton exchange membrane on the performance of microbial fuel cell
Author(s) -
Rahimnejad Mostafa,
Bakeri Gholamreza,
Ghasemi Mostafa,
Zirepour Alireza
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/pat.3383
Subject(s) - microbial fuel cell , nafion , membrane , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , faraday efficiency , fouling , materials science , substrate (aquarium) , biofouling , chemical engineering , proton , internal resistance , fuel cells , chemistry , electricity generation , power (physics) , electrode , engineering , biology , electrochemistry , biochemistry , ecology , physics , quantum mechanics , battery (electricity)
Proton exchange membranes (PEMs) are the most frequently used separators in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The role of proton transportation in MFC performance makes PEMs one of the most important components in the cell. The effect of PEMs in MFC performance is commonly determined according to generated power density and coulombic efficiency. Nafion is the commonly used membrane in MFCs, but there are still a number of problems associated with the use of Nafion including oxygen transfer rate, cation transport and accumulation rather than protons, membrane fouling and substrate loss. Moreover, additional problems can also be attributed to the effect of PEMs including internal resistance and pH change in MFCs. Recent developments in PEM performance are attributed to two categories including utilization of other types of membranes and improvements in Nafion by pre‐treatment methods. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.