New application of polymer inclusion membrane based on ionic liquids as proton exchange membrane in microbial fuel cell

• Polymer ionic liquids membranes (PILIMs) have been used in microbial fuel cells (MFCs).
• MFCs with PILIMs yield suitable power to be used as proton exchange membranes (PEMs).
• MFCs with PILIMs yield higher COD reduction than anaerobic digester.
• PILIMs could supersede conventional PEMS such us Nafion®.
• PILIMs could improve the efficiency of MFC and the reduction of its capital cost.

In the present work is evaluated for the first time the potential use of polymer inclusion membranes based on ionic liquids as proton exchange membranes in microbial fuel cell. Specifically ionic liquids based on 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate and methyl trioctil ammonium chloride were used. It has been demonstrate that polymer inclusion membranes based on ionic liquids could act as proton exchange membrane in microbial fuel cell. In the case of ammonium based supported ionic liquid membrane (70% (w/w) ionic liquid), the power and the chemical oxygen demanded removal reached values of 450 mW/m3 and more than 80% respectively. An increasing of the amount of ionic liquid immobilized in the membrane involved an increasing in the microbial fuel cell power which means that the ionic liquid plays a role as active proton transport through the membrane.