Microbial cation exchange membranes

Bioelectrochemical Hydrogen Production, Fig.1 Schematic layout of a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) showing the anode and cathode chamber, the electrodes with attached biocatalysts, the membrane separator and the power supply, as well as the anodic and cathodic half reactions. AEM anion exchange membrane, CEM cation exchange membrane... 

A microbial fuel cell consists of an anode, a cathode, a proton or cation exchange membrane, and an electrical circuit. The bacteria live in the anode and convert a substrate such as glucose, acetate, as well as wastewater into CO2, protons, and electrons as shown in Figure 1.9. Under aerobic conditions, bacteria use oxygen or nitrate as a final electron acceptor to produce water. However, in the anode of an MFC, no oxygen is present and bacteria need to switch from their natural electron acceptor to an insoluble acceptor, such as the MFC anode. Because of the ability of bacteria to transfer electrons to an insoluble electron acceptor, we can use an MFC to collect the electrons originating from the microbial metabolism. The electron transfer can occur... 

FIG. 6.11 Parallel connected stack microbial fuel cell consisting of six individual microbial fuel cells with (1) a granular graphite anode, (2) an Ultrex cation exchange membrane, and (3) a 50 mM hexacyanoferrate cathode separated by (4) a rubber sheet. (Reprinted with permission from American Chemical Society (2006). Copyright 2006 American Chemical Society [63].)... 

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