Performance of photopolymerized active layer forward osmosis membrane in the osmotic microbial fuel cell

Osmotic microbial fuel cell (OMFC) is evolved by substituting the proton exchange membrane (PEM) by forward osmosis (FO) membrane in a microbial fuel cell (MFC). This study tried to mitigate the dependency on commercial FO membranes to enhance the mutual benefits between MFC and FO. We investigated the performance of photopolymerized active layer FO membranes in OMFC with feed as a synthetic wastewater and draw solution as 35 g/L NaCl solution and compared by commercial HTI cellulose triacetate (CTA) membrane. Poly (ethylene glycol) phenyl ether acrylate (PPEA) monomer and methacrylic acid (MAA) monomer was used in different ratio i.e., 100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 and 0/100 for preparation of active layer on our earlier work's optimized substrate. Effect of the concentration of MAA had a significant effect on ion exchange capacity, water uptake, and oxygen and proton mass transfer. Among all prepared membranes, the 75/25 FO membrane showed the highest power density of 237.23 +/- 0.90 mW/m(2) and average water flux 0.95 +/- 0.71 LMH. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study aims to improve the performance of osmotic microbial fuel cells (OMFC) and reduce the dependence on commercial FO membranes. By investigating different ratios of PPEA and MAA monomers, an active layer was prepared on the optimized substrate, with the 75/25 FO membrane showing the highest power density and average water flux.