Application of proton-conducting sulfonated polysulfone incorporated MIL-100(Fe) composite materials for polymer-electrolyte membrane microbial fuel cells

Abstract This research aimed to evaluate a microbial fuel cell (MFC) device equipped with a novel composite polymer-electrolyte membrane consisting of the metal-organic framework and sulfonated polysulfone (SPSU/MIL-100(Fe)) for simultaneous treatment of meat poultry wastewater and power generation. The composite SPSU/MIL-100(Fe) membranes were fabricated by solution casting of polymer and characterized to determine the MFC performance. A 20 wt% SPSU solution with 42.27%desulfonation degree exhibited an IEC 1.2 meq g−1, PC 0.90 mS cm−1, and low WU 7%. However, the minimum oxygen diffusion coefficient 1.23 × 10−5 cm2 s−1, oxygen mass transfer coefficient 6.49 × 10−4 cm s−1, maximum PC 2.55 mS cm−1, and WU 36.50% were achieved with SPSU composite membrane by loading 7% MIL-100(Fe), denoted as SPSU/MIL7. The MFC with the as-synthesized SPSU/MIL7 composite membrane for application of poultry wastewater treatment was tested and compared to that achieved with Nafion. The SPSU/MIL7 membrane with voltage 970 mV, power density 27.60 mW m−2, PC 2.55 mS cm−1, and CE 31.01% revealed higher MFC achievement. Moreover, under the same condition, slightly higher COD removal (57.65%) is observed in the MFC with SPSU/MIL7 membrane than with Nafion117 (55.02%). The results firmly suggest that SPSU/MIL7, as a promising MOF separator, finds application in proton exchange membrane MFCs (PEMMFCs).