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Ion-Exchange Membranes for the Fabrication of Reverse Electrodialysis Device
Published on: July 20, 2021
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Performance of a continuous flow microbial reverse-electrodialysis electrolysis cell using a non-buffered substrate
Syarif Hidayat1, Young-Hyun Song1, Joo-Yang Park1
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 133-791, Republic of Korea.
Bioresource Technology
|March 19, 2017
Summary
Adding catholyte effluent to the anode chamber significantly boosted hydrogen gas production in a microbial reverse-electrodialysis electrolysis cell (MREC). This improvement, driven by neutral pH, enhances MREC performance for sustainable energy.
Area of Science:
- Microbial electrochemistry
- Renewable energy production
- Sustainable chemical synthesis
Background:
- Microbial reverse-electrodialysis electrolysis cells (MREC) offer a promising avenue for sustainable hydrogen gas production.
- Optimizing MREC performance is crucial for maximizing energy recovery and efficiency.
- Non-buffered conditions and substrate management present challenges in MREC operation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of catholyte effluent addition to the anode chamber on hydrogen gas production in a continuous flow MREC.
- To determine the optimal conditions for enhancing MREC performance under non-buffered substrate conditions.
- To elucidate the mechanisms responsible for performance improvements, distinguishing between pH and conductivity effects.
Main Methods:
- Operated a continuous flow MREC under non-buffered substrate conditions.
- Varied the flow rates of catholyte effluent introduced into the anode chamber.
- Analyzed changes in anolyte salt concentration, pH, hydrogen production, Coulombic recovery, and yield.
Main Results:
- Adding catholyte effluent to the anolyte influent increased the salt concentration and improved hydrogen gas production.
- Optimal performance was achieved with an anolyte influent salt concentration of 0.23M, yielding 25±1.4mL of hydrogen.
- Improvements in Coulombic recovery (83±5%), yield (1.49±0.15mol-H2/mole-COD), and hydrogen production rate (0.91±0.03m3-H2/m3-Van/day) were observed.
- Performance enhancement was attributed to neutral pH rather than increased conductivity, as direct NaCl addition did not yield similar improvements.
Conclusions:
- Addition of catholyte effluent to the anode chamber is an effective strategy for enhancing MREC performance.
- Neutral pH, resulting from catholyte effluent addition, plays a key role in improving hydrogen production and efficiency.
- This study provides valuable insights for optimizing MREC operation for sustainable hydrogen generation.
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