Spray-on polyvinyl alcohol separators and impact on power production in air-cathode microbial fuel cells with different solution conductivities

Daniel L. Hoskins; Xiaoyuan Zhang; Michael A. Hickner; Bruce E. Logan

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2014.09.004

Spray-on polyvinyl alcohol separators and impact on power production in air-cathode microbial fuel cells with different solution conductivities

Daniel L. Hoskins, Xiaoyuan Zhang, Michael A. Hickner, Bruce E. Logan

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. Separators are used to protect cathodes from biofouling and to avoid electrode short-circuiting, but they can adversely affect microbial fuel cell (MFC) performance. A spray method was used to apply a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) separator to the cathode. Power densities were unaffected by the PVA separator (339 ± 29 mW/m2), compared to a control lacking a separator in a low conductivity solution (1mS/cm) similar to wastewater. Power was reduced with separators in solutions typical of laboratory tests (7-13 mS/cm), compared to separatorless controls. The PVA separator produced more power in a separator assembly (SEA) configuration (444 ± 8 mW/m2) in the 1mS/cm solution, but power was reduced if a PVA or wipe separator was used in higher conductivity solutions with either Pt or activated carbon catalysts. Spray and cast PVA separators performed similarly, but the spray method is preferred as it was easier to apply and use.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	156-161
Number of pages	6
Journal	Bioresource Technology
Volume	172
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.09.004
State	Published - Nov 2014
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01
Acknowledged KAUST grant number(s): KUS-11-003-13
Acknowledgements: This research was supported by the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and award KUS-11-003-13 from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). The authors would like to thank Dr. Guang Chen for his expertise in the fabrication of PVA membranes.
This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.

Access to Document

10.1016/j.biortech.2014.09.004

Cite this

@article{9b69d74c9a2e4f86904fd65c250cc702,

title = "Spray-on polyvinyl alcohol separators and impact on power production in air-cathode microbial fuel cells with different solution conductivities",

abstract = "{\textcopyright} 2014 Elsevier Ltd. Separators are used to protect cathodes from biofouling and to avoid electrode short-circuiting, but they can adversely affect microbial fuel cell (MFC) performance. A spray method was used to apply a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) separator to the cathode. Power densities were unaffected by the PVA separator (339 ± 29 mW/m2), compared to a control lacking a separator in a low conductivity solution (1mS/cm) similar to wastewater. Power was reduced with separators in solutions typical of laboratory tests (7-13 mS/cm), compared to separatorless controls. The PVA separator produced more power in a separator assembly (SEA) configuration (444 ± 8 mW/m2) in the 1mS/cm solution, but power was reduced if a PVA or wipe separator was used in higher conductivity solutions with either Pt or activated carbon catalysts. Spray and cast PVA separators performed similarly, but the spray method is preferred as it was easier to apply and use.",

author = "Hoskins, {Daniel L.} and Xiaoyuan Zhang and Hickner, {Michael A.} and Logan, {Bruce E.}",

note = "KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01 Acknowledged KAUST grant number(s): KUS-11-003-13 Acknowledgements: This research was supported by the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and award KUS-11-003-13 from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). The authors would like to thank Dr. Guang Chen for his expertise in the fabrication of PVA membranes. This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.",

year = "2014",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1016/j.biortech.2014.09.004",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "172",

pages = "156--161",

journal = "Bioresource Technology",

issn = "0960-8524",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Spray-on polyvinyl alcohol separators and impact on power production in air-cathode microbial fuel cells with different solution conductivities

AU - Hoskins, Daniel L.

AU - Zhang, Xiaoyuan

AU - Hickner, Michael A.

AU - Logan, Bruce E.

N1 - KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01 Acknowledged KAUST grant number(s): KUS-11-003-13 Acknowledgements: This research was supported by the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and award KUS-11-003-13 from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). The authors would like to thank Dr. Guang Chen for his expertise in the fabrication of PVA membranes. This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.

PY - 2014/11

Y1 - 2014/11

N2 - © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. Separators are used to protect cathodes from biofouling and to avoid electrode short-circuiting, but they can adversely affect microbial fuel cell (MFC) performance. A spray method was used to apply a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) separator to the cathode. Power densities were unaffected by the PVA separator (339 ± 29 mW/m2), compared to a control lacking a separator in a low conductivity solution (1mS/cm) similar to wastewater. Power was reduced with separators in solutions typical of laboratory tests (7-13 mS/cm), compared to separatorless controls. The PVA separator produced more power in a separator assembly (SEA) configuration (444 ± 8 mW/m2) in the 1mS/cm solution, but power was reduced if a PVA or wipe separator was used in higher conductivity solutions with either Pt or activated carbon catalysts. Spray and cast PVA separators performed similarly, but the spray method is preferred as it was easier to apply and use.

AB - © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. Separators are used to protect cathodes from biofouling and to avoid electrode short-circuiting, but they can adversely affect microbial fuel cell (MFC) performance. A spray method was used to apply a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) separator to the cathode. Power densities were unaffected by the PVA separator (339 ± 29 mW/m2), compared to a control lacking a separator in a low conductivity solution (1mS/cm) similar to wastewater. Power was reduced with separators in solutions typical of laboratory tests (7-13 mS/cm), compared to separatorless controls. The PVA separator produced more power in a separator assembly (SEA) configuration (444 ± 8 mW/m2) in the 1mS/cm solution, but power was reduced if a PVA or wipe separator was used in higher conductivity solutions with either Pt or activated carbon catalysts. Spray and cast PVA separators performed similarly, but the spray method is preferred as it was easier to apply and use.

UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10754/599700

UR - https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0960852414012553

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84907486140&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.09.004

DO - 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.09.004

M3 - Article

C2 - 25260178

SN - 0960-8524

VL - 172

SP - 156

EP - 161

JO - Bioresource Technology

JF - Bioresource Technology

ER -

Spray-on polyvinyl alcohol separators and impact on power production in air-cathode microbial fuel cells with different solution conductivities

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this